Entitlement to payments when care has temporarily stopped

Carers can continue to get CSP in some instances where they have temporarily stopped providing care. In any 26 week period, a carer can be paid CSP during stops in care of up to:  

• 4 weeks for any reason
• 12 weeks if they or the person they care for is in hospital or a similar institution

The maximum length of time a carer can temporarily stop providing care in any 26 week period – through a combination of hospital and non-hospital stops – and still get CSP is 12 weeksCSP Regs 40 (1)).

If a carer temporarily stops providing care for more than 4 weeks for any reason or 12 weeks for hospital-related reasons in any 26 week they will have a temporary stop in entitlement to CSP and will not receive any further payments until they report that they are providing care againCSP Regs 40 (1)). Their CSP payments could be reinstated through a Determination Without Application if they begin providing care again within 26 weeks of their payments stoppingCSP Regs 23(1)(c) and (2)). If they do not report that they are providing care again within a 26 week period their Carer Support Payment award will be ended and they will need to reapply.