Anyone claiming a carer’s allowance could be in-line for an extra £491.40 if they live in a certain part of the UK or even further afield.
Carers in Scotland who receive the standard payment may not be aware they can also claim what is known as the Carer’s Allowance Supplement.
The widely-claimed carer’s allowance is divvied up by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), while this little-known extra payment is administered by the Scottish Government’s social security body.
The Carer’s Allowance Supplement (CAS) of £245.70 is paid twice a year (a total of £491.40) to anyone currently receiving the Carer’s Allowance in Scotland.
Unpaid carers received their first such payment on June 10 this year, with only those claiming Carer’s Allowance as of April 11, 2022 receiving it.
Social Security Scotland says the next instalment of the Carer’s Allowance Supplement will be paid later this year in December.
Anyone receiving the DWP’s Carer’s Allowance from October 10, 2022 will get this extra payment around this time.
Some CAS claimants are having to wait a while for their allowance, and anyone yet to receive a letter or payment should contact Social Security Scotland on 0800 1822222.
It is possible for some to claim CAS if they live outside Scotland – but they must prove a robust link to the country despite living outside the UK in either Gibraltar, Switzerland or the European Economic Area.
To apply, would-be claimants must show a proof of residency and other supporting documents to receive the benefit.
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Once the application has been processed, Social Security Scotland will contact the applicant to let them know whether or not they’ve been successful.
Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Social Security said: “Making these payments will represent a historic moment, launching a new public service that will deliver a social security system that treats people with dignity, fairness and respect.
“We recognise the important contribution carers make, and we believe the current total paid out to them is not enough.
“This supplementary payment allows us to get more money in the pockets of carers in Scotland as quickly as possible.
“We have always made it clear we believe that Carer’s Allowance should be the same rate as Jobseeker’s Allowance.
“Having new powers over social security means we can make this a reality and this additional payment is in recognition of the important contribution carers make to society.”
