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 elements:

  • 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.

Carer Support Payment (CSP) is the Scottish Government’s replacement for Carer’s Allowance (CA). The payment launched nationally in November 2024.

Scottish Carer Supplement (SCS) will be introduced from March 2026 to replace Carer’s Allowance Supplement.


Carer’s Additional Person Payment (CAPP) will be introduced in March 2026 and paid to individuals receiving CSP 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.