Skip to main content
Knowledge Base
< All Topics
Print

Carer Support Payment 

Posted
Updated
  • Carer Support Payment is money to help you if you’re a carer. You can get paid £83.30 a week if you’re eligible, paid every 4 weeks. 
  • Carer Support Payment replaced Carer’s Allowance in Scotland. It became available across Scotland from November 2024, and from November 2025 everyone was moved to the new payment. 
  • To get Carer Support Payment your ‘take home pay’ cannot be more than £196 a week (your take home pay is what’s left after you’ve paid tax, National Insurance and expenses such as childcare costs while you work. Social Security Scotland will receive details of your pay from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)). £196 a week is based on an average so it’s okay if sometimes your pay is higher than this. 
  • You must also be 16 or over and provide care for 35 hours or more a week. 
  • You do not have to live with the person you care for or be related to them. You can only apply for Carer Support Payment for one person. If you provide care for more people, there are no extra payments. 
  • If you get Carer Support Payment, you may get Carer’s Allowance Supplement twice a year (see section below) and a Christmas Bonus (one-off tax-free £10 payment paid at the start of December – see https://www.gov.uk/christmas-bonus)  
  • NOTE if you receive Universal Credit: Carer Support Payment is counted as income for Universal Credit so you may get less money from DWP for Universal Credit if you’re awarded Carer Support Payment. The government website states ‘You’ll usually be better off overall if you get Carer Support Payment and your income-related benefits. And if you get Carer Support Payment, you’ll also get Carer’s Allowance Supplement’. 
Table of Contents