Explainers
Payments to carers
Carer Support is paid to individuals who provide unpaid care for someone who is disabled and has substantial caring needs.
Carer Support in Scotland consists of three weekly payment components:
- Carer Support Payment which replaced Carer’s Allowance in 2025-26.
- Scottish Carer Supplement which replaces Carer’s Allowance Supplement in 2026-27.
- Carer Additional Person Payment which will be introduced in 2026-27 and is paid to individuals receiving Carer Support Payment and caring for more than one disabled person.
Social Security Scotland also pays an annual Young Carer Grant for carers aged between 16 and 19 years old. We do not produce a forecast for Young Carer Grant as the spending is below our materiality threshold.