Eligible individuals set to receive a £290 payment this year
The Carer's Allowance Supplement (CAS) is a financial recognition for unpaid carers living in Scotland. This supplement is specifically available to carers who receive the Carer's Allowance or Carer's Support Payment from the Scottish system. The CAS is paid twice a year, in June and December.
For those living outside Scotland, there is no separate Carer's Allowance Supplement equivalent. Instead, carers outside Scotland may qualify for the UK-wide Carer's Allowance benefit, provided they meet certain eligibility criteria, such as caring for someone receiving a qualifying disability benefit, providing at least 35 hours of care per week, being over 16 years old, not in full-time education, and earning £196 or less per week after tax.
The Carer's Allowance Supplement is linked to the Scottish Carer’s Support Payment system, replacing Carer’s Allowance in Scotland after devolution. It is not available to carers outside Scotland or non-Scottish residents.
Here's a summary of the key differences:
| Aspect | Scotland Residents | Non-Scottish Residents | |----------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------| | Eligible for Carer's Allowance | Yes, via Scottish Carer Support Payment, eligible for CAS | Yes, via UK Carer’s Allowance but no CAS supplement | | Carer's Allowance Supplement (CAS) | Paid twice yearly to Scottish carers receiving Carer Support Payment | Not available | | Key eligibility for Carer's Allowance | Care for qualifying person, 35+ hrs/week, income and age limits | Same criteria as UK Carer’s Allowance but no supplement |
If you're unsure about your entitlement to various benefits, you can use benefits calculators provided by organisations such as MoneySavingExpert.com, charity StepChange, Entitledto, Policy in Practice, and Turn2Us. These tools can help you estimate your potential benefits, tax credits, and Universal Credit.
If you're a carer living in Scotland and believe you might be eligible for the Carer's Allowance Supplement, keep an eye out for eligibility letters from Social Security Scotland. Around 90,000 carers received the supplement in June.
For those facing money-related problems, you can get in touch by emailing [email protected]. If you need food assistance, The Trussell Trust operates hundreds of food banks across the UK, and you can find your nearest one at trussell.org.uk/emergency-food/find-a-foodbank.
Some energy firms, such as British Gas and Octopus Energy, offer grants worth up to £2,000 to customers struggling with energy bills. Additionally, some energy firms will debt match any repayments, providing further financial support.
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- For carers living in Scotland, there is a specific financial support called the Carer's Allowance Supplement (CAS), which is linked to the Scottish Carer’s Support Payment system and is paid twice a year.
- Carers outside Scotland cannot receive the Carer's Allowance Supplement as it is not available to them, but they may qualify for the UK-wide Carer's Allowance benefit if they meet certain eligibility criteria.
