Terminal illness on application for Carer Support Payment

In circumstances where a carer applies for Carer Support Payment and does not meet the past presence test they will be automatically exempt from the past presence test if they or the person they care for are terminally ill and have been awarded a disability benefit under SRTI from Social Security Scotland. If they are not automatically exempt on this basis they will be sent a notification which will ask if either they or the person they are caring for are entitled to a disability benefit under SREL administered by the DWP or NIDfC (the notification will also ask about other special circumstances which would mean they are not required to meet the past presence test – see below). If either is the case, the client adviser can award Carer Support Payment as the client does not need to meet the past presence test. Supporting information will be needed to evidence that this is the case before the application can be progressed.

For information on how to exempt a client from the past presence test on the basis of terminal illness, please see Supporting information for SRTI.

If the carer doesn’t meet the past presence test and neither they nor the person they care for is terminally ill (and none of the other special circumstances apply) client advisers cannot award Carer Support Payment. More information on other reasons a client may be exempt from the past presence test is included in guidance on residence and presence.

If Carer Support Payment is awarded with no past presence test due to terminal illness, the client is entitled to choose whether they have their Carer Support Payment paid four weekly in arrears or weekly in advance.