Multiple carers and temporary stops in entitlement process
Carer Support may be temporarily stopped in certain situations. Carer Support Payment Regulations, Regulation 23 (The Carer’s Assistance (Carer Support Payment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023, Regulation 23). This is so that the carer does not need to re-apply, should they become entitled again within 26 weeks. This makes it easier and quicker for the carer to receive support again, if their entitlement has only temporarily ceased.
This can happen due to the carer’s earnings exceeding the threshold, interruptions to entitlement of the cared for persons qualifying benefit or temporary breaks in care.
Where entitlement temporarily stops, the carer will receive a notification telling them that their award has ended, and advising them to get in touch if their circumstances change and they become entitled to Carer Support again within 26 weeks so that they can begin to receive support again. The notification will also advise that if another carer is awarded Carer Support Payment or Carer Additional Person Payment as part of a Carer Support award for the same cared for person that their award will completely end.
If after 26 weeks the carer has not become entitled again, the carer will need to make a new application for Carer Support. If another carer has been awarded Carer Support Payment or Carer Additional Person Payment as part of a Carer Support award during this period, the application would require a rival care process to determine which carer should receive support.
Example:
Kathy is receiving Carer Support Payment as part of her Carer Support award and begins to earn over the earnings limit. Her Carer Support Payment award is ended and she receives a letter advising if her circumstances change within 26 weeks and she becomes entitled to Carer Support again, to get in touch with the agency who will consider reinstating her Carer Support award.
On week 15, Hazel claims the Carer Support Payment component for the same cared for person. The client advisor checks that no one else is receiving Carer Support Payment as part of a Carer Support award and finds that Kathy is not currently entitled and her case has been closed. Hazel is awarded Carer Support Payment.
On week 23, Kathy contacts the agency to advise her earnings are now below the earnings threshold and she wishes to receive Carer Support Payment again because she is still caring for the cared for person for more than 35 hours a week. Kathy is advised that another carer has been awarded Carer Support Payment as part of their Carer Support award and she would need to make a new application. Kathy applies for Carer Support for the same cared for person as Hazel. As Kathy meets all other eligibility criteria, the rival carer process should be carried out to determine who should receive support.