A new benefits supplement left carers in Scotland feeling more valued but typically only had a small effect on day-to-day finances and mental wellbeing, a report has found.

The Carer’s Allowance Supplement, which is paid by the Scottish government in two £230 lump sums each year, was described as a ‘wee lift’ in the months when the payment was made.

But the evaluation, produced by the Scottish government, says ‘different actions…and/or higher levels of financial support’ will be needed to have a more significant impact.

The Scottish government says it will take the findings into account as it draws up its own benefit that will replace the one paid by the Department of Work & Pensions (DWP).

The total cost of all the care provided by families in Scotland since the start of the pandemic has been estimated to equal just under £11bn – nearly the same as the budget for Scotland’s frontline NHS in a normal year.

There are now more than one million people in Scotland who regularly provide unpaid support for a friend or relative, but most are not eligible for benefits.

Just over 80,000 top-up payments were made to eligible carers in April 2020, with around two-thirds going to female carers and the rest to male carers.

Payments are made automatically, with the first batch in June and the second set to reach carers in time for Christmas

This year an extra covid-19 supplement was added in June, though this was not covered by researchers.

They found that recipients generally welcomed the positive effects of the payment, saying that it had helped with money worries when it was paid.

It also improved mental health a ‘little’ in most cases, though in some it helped carers in financial difficulty pay off debts or fund a trip away when they were close to breaking point.

There was widespread appreciation for the ‘thank you’ from the Scottish government, with carers reporting that they felt more valued.

However, this did not extend to the wider public, who are described as having ‘little awareness’ of the essential work done by carers unless they were in the same position themselves.

The report follows the launch of a new campaign, backed by Still Game star Jane McCarry, that encourages Scots who care for someone to reach out for emotional and practical support.

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “This report gives us a greater understanding of what carers want and need, and we’ll use this to help develop Scottish Carer’s Assistance - our replacement benefit for Carer’s Allowance - so that we can meet the needs of carers better.

“There is no doubting the positive impact Carer’s Allowance Supplement has had on carers in Scotland. And I’m happy to announce the next automatic £230 payment will reach carers in time for Christmas.

“In some cases this payment has made a great difference to carers’ mental health and wellbeing, where it has enabled them to pay off debts or been used towards a trip away to give them a much-needed break.

“I know this has been a hard year for many carers which is why we also provided an additional coronavirus supplement of £230.10 this year.

“This means around 83,000 carers in Scotland will get up to £690 more this year compared to those in the rest of the UK.”

In related news, Scotland’s public spending watchdog issued a warning earlier this month after it was estimated around £15m in Carer’s Allowance could have been paid out incorrectly.

Stephen Boyle, Auditor General for Scotland, said Social Security Scotland still had “a lot of key work” to strengthen error and fraud arrangements.

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