Caring for Carers

Helping Those Who Help Others

Unpaid carers make a huge contribution within our communities, but often face financial hardship – with many forced to give up paid work or reduce their hours to support those they care for.

Caring for someone comes with additional costs too, such as transport, heating, equipment and food, leaving carers more likely to experience poverty. That’s why improving the financial support available to them was one of the very first actions the SNP undertook with devolved welfare powers, and it has continued to build on this.

Since the formation of Social Security Scotland in 2018, the SNP Scottish Government has delivered greater financial support for unpaid carers in Scotland under a very different social security system, rooted in dignity, fairness and respect. 

Carer’s Allowance Supplement provides up to £587 a year, while Young Carer Grant offers over £390 each year to carers aged 16-18 years. These payments are only available in Scotland. 

And thousands who were receiving Carer’s Allowance have now had their benefit awards safely and securely transferred to the devolved Carer Support Payment. 

Further planned improvements to carer benefits in Scotland include extension of Young Carer Grant to 19-year-olds, and a new payment worth up to £520 a year for carers who are caring for more than one person.  

Extending eligibility for financial support following the death of the cared-for person from 8 to 12 weeks is also amongst the plans. 

In total, the SNP in government is supporting over 126,000 unpaid carers in Scotland through devolved carer benefits.