Weekly in advance payments

Carer Support Payment is normally paid every four weeks in arrears. Where a carer or the person they care for is terminally ill and has been awarded a disability benefit under SRTI or SREL, they can choose instead to receive payments weekly in advance. This is in line with devolved disability benefits. Some clients whose cases have been transferred from DWP Carer’s Allowance may already be on weekly in advance payment cycles (CSP Regs – Reg 22(b)(ii)).

If the carer or cared for person has been awarded a Scottish disability benefit under SRTI when the carer applies for Carer Support Payment, then the system generated Award Letter issued by Social Security Scotland will offer them the option to change their payment cycle to weekly in advance. The client or the cared for person can request this change by contacting Social Security Scotland or completing the online Change of Circumstances form.

If the carer or cared for person is not in receipt of a Scottish disability benefit under SRTI the carer may still be eligible to change their payment cycle if they or the cared for person are awarded a disability benefit under SREL, administered by the DWP or NIDfC. They will be notified of the option to change payment cycle through pre-application MyGov guidance, the application form and award letter. They can request this change in payment cycle through contacting Social Security Scotland or via the online Change of Circumstances form.

If a carer or cared for person receives a terminal illness diagnosis and is awarded a disability benefit under either SRTI or SREL during the course of a Carer Support Payment award they can report this and request a change to their payment cycle by either contacting Social Security Scotland or via the online Change of Circumstances form. 

A client may wish to revert their payment cycle back to four weekly in arrears from weekly in advance. The client can request this change in payment cycle by contacting Social Security Scotland. The online Change of Circumstances form is not available for this option.