A NEW benefit is being rolled out across Scotland to support unpaid carers.

The Scottish Government’s new Carer Support Payment is being introduced in 19 council areas after a trial in some parts of the country.

Who is eligible?

Only unpaid carers are eligible for the new payment. You must be 16 or older to claim the benefit, live in Scotland, provide care for 35 hours or more a week and earn £151 or less per week (£7852 a year) after tax, National Insurance and expenses.

Where do you need to live?

Previously, only people living in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Dundee, East Ayrshire, Fife, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Perth and Kinross, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire and the Western Isles were eligible.

It has now been extended to cover the remaining 19 council areas in Scotland, including the Highlands, Glasgow and Edinburgh.  

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You need to have lived in the Common Travel Area (UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man) for at least 26 of the last 52 weeks, unless you are a refugee, you’ve left the UK for an extended period of time as a civil servant or member of the military, work as aircraft worker, mariner or continental shelf operations worker.

There are other extenuating circumstances such as having some immigration circumstances or if you are in receipt of Armed Forces Independence Payment or Constant Attendance Allowance.

What kind of care qualifies?

The Scottish Government says that the care must be unpaid, so cannot be carried out as a professional or through a volunteering scheme or charity.

But it has stressed that those who may not consider themselves “carers” may qualify and urged people to consider whether they supported people with mental illness, sickness, disability or addiction.

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The person you care for must be in receipt of one of the following benefits: Adult Disability Payment – daily living component; Child Disability Payment – middle or highest care rate; Pension Age Disability Payment; Attendance Allowance; Personal Independence Payment – daily living component; Disability Living Allowance – middle or highest care rate; Constant Attendance Allowance at or above normal maximum rate with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit; Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension; Armed Forces Independence Payment.

Can students claim the Carer Support Payment?

Yes, many students who are carers can claim for the benefit. Check the Scottish Government’s website for the full details.

If your hours of study are less than 21 per week, you can claim for the Carer Support Payment or if you are studying any course – either full or part time – and are over the age of 20.

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You cannot normally get Carer Support Payment if you spend 21 hours or more a week studying for one of the following courses at school or college – however there are exceptions in certain circumstances.

These include people unsupported by their parents or guardians or if you are responsible for a child or qualifying young person, including a foster child.

You can find out more here.