Unpaid carers in full-time education will be able to claim Scotland’s new Scottish Carer Support Payment from its launch next spring.

A letter sent to the Chair of the Disability and Carers Benefits Expert Advisory Group from the former Minister for Social Security and Local Government confirms unpaid carers over 20 years old in full-time education, and those aged 16 to 19 studying at HNC level or above, will be eligible for the new payment.

Scottish Carer’s Assistance is set to replace the UK's Carer’s Allowance, with initial rollout to some areas in Scotland to begin later this year.

Full time students are currently not eligible for the UK benefit.

Carers Scotland says it is ‘delighted’ that Scottish government plans to extend Carer Support Payment to full time students:

“This is a change we have been calling for and will reduce financial barriers to education.”

"Once Carer Support Payment goes live in spring 2024, the Scottish government also plans to increase the ‘run on’ of support after a cared for person dies from 8 to 12 weeks as a priority. This is an important change to support carers at what is a very difficult time.

”The Scottish government has outlined further changes they intend to make following safe and secure transition of those currently receiving Carers Allowance from the DWP to Carer Support Fund. These changes include on the earnings threshold and are intending to explore a payment for longer term who cannot receive the benefit because of the overlapping benefit rules.”

Of the recommendations now accepted, some relate directly to improving access and support into education, employment, and further skills development for carers – including supporting carers into full-time study.

In his ministerial foreword to the government’s response to, Ben Macpherson, the Minister for Social Security, who recently declined a new role in new First Minister Humza Yousaf’s cabinet reshuffle, said:

“The Scottish government's vision is to provide support for carers in a meaningful and sustainable way so they are able to work, engage in education, and have full lives away from caring if that is their wish.

“We want to make sure carers are recognised and their contribution is understood and valued by society, that their voices are heard, and their views and experiences are taken into account in decisions which affect them.”

Of those recommendations accepted, one details developing simple rules and processes around the new support that ‘do not deter’ people from pursuing education, work, or applying for assistance.

The response details that the government is still considering the position of student carers between 16 and 19, to ensure that policies do not appear to incentivise or normalise school children and young people to taking on significant caring roles.

Mr Macpherson added in the response to recommendations that the government is designing Carers Assistance to ensure that interactions with other forms of support will not mean carers ‘lose out on any support’.

However, one recommendation from the Disability and Carer Benefit Group around education, employment support for those caring for more than one severely disabled child has only been partially accepted.

Carers Additional Child Payment (CACP) is a support payment for carers in Scotland who care for more than one severely disabled child and this recommendation states:

‘The Scottish government should provide support to carers and the people they care for at the point they lose entitlement to CACP, especially with help to apply for other relevant benefits or grants and linking to wider education, employment and skills support. It should also consider developing its own discretionary fund to help individuals during this transition.’

The government acknowledges that many the need to support carers ‘at transitional points’, but partially accepts this recommendation, stating that it is still working to make likes between services and support around such points.

The new changes will make it easier for people to access the financial assistance via Social Security Scotland to be paid on a four-weekly basis, but the rules Carer’s Support Payment must ‘largely mirror’ its UK equivalent.

This is to ensure safe and secure transfer of the benefits and avoid any carers being disadvantaged by a potential ‘two tier system’.

Other proposals, including a £10 supplement payment for those who care for more than one person and increasing the ‘run-on’ support for carers after a person has died, from 8 to 12 weeks will be pursued after the national case transfer is complete.

Carers Scotland says that better support for unpaid carers must be delivered quickly:

“We are keen that progress is made as quickly as possible to improve and build improved financial support for unpaid carers.”

Read more: Unpaid carers “spiralling” in cost-of-living crisis; Money matters for poverty and health in Scotland; Minister: Carers benefit launch “top priority”; Government adds to families fund

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