Aim to extend CSP to thousands of carers in Scotland
Regulations laid before Scottish Parliament this week seek to extend Carer Support Payment to 10 new council areas
Replacing the old Carer’s Allowance in Scotland, the Carer Support Payment was introduced in November 2023 in three pilot areas: Dundee City; Na h-Eileanan Siar (the Western Isles); and Perth & Kinross.
Photo by Tommao Wang
The new CSP offers a number of benefits over the old system. Unlike carer’s allowance, CSP is available to carers aged 16-19 where they are in full-time, advanced education, and to carers aged over 20 in full-time education at any level.
The new regulations being put before the Scottish Parliament propose to extend this eligibility, so that starting as soon as June 24 some carers aged 16-19 can still qualify even if they are not in full-time ‘advanced’ education. That would include those still at school.
The regulations also propose to extend CSP to a further 10 local authority areas across Scotland. If the extension is approved, from June 24 CSP will be extended to Angus and to North and South Lanarkshire. Then, from August it will be extended to: Aberdeen; Aberdeenshire; East, North and South Ayreshire; Fife; and Moray. From November, the plan is to make CSP available to the rest of Scotland.
Those eligible carers who live in areas that CSP has not yet reached are urged to continue applying for the old carer’s allowance to ensure they don’t miss out on due support.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville says: ‘Unpaid carers provide a huge amount of physical, mental and emotional support. The work they do is invaluable, both to the people they care for and to Scottish society as a whole. I am therefore delighted we are ready to roll-out the next phase of Carer Support Payment, allowing thousands more unpaid carers to get the benefit.
‘This is particularly important for those who aren’t eligible for Carer’s Allowance, but are eligible for Carer Support Payment, including many full-time students. Having spoken to carers in the pilot areas, I know Carer Support Payment is not only providing financial support to students who couldn’t get it before, but it’s allowing carers to study full-time who never thought this would be possible. I urge anyone who lives in an area where Carer Support Payment is available to apply for it as soon as possible.’
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