Carer Support Payment: business and regulatory impact assessment

Competition Assessment

The Scottish Government does not believe that Carer Support Payment or the case transfer process will have an adverse impact on the competitiveness of Scottish companies or the third sector within Scotland, the UK, or elsewhere in Europe or the rest of the world. Carer Support Payment and case transfer will not directly or indirectly limit the number of suppliers, nor does it limit the ability of suppliers to compete or reduce suppliers’ incentives to compete vigorously.

The Scottish Government does not expect there to be any significant impacts on the operational business of local authorities, welfare advice services or health boards because of the introduction of Carer Support Payment. As noted above, there may be some impacts on businesses and third sector organisations operating in Scotland in relation to the way Social Security Scotland delivers this new devolved benefit in comparison to Carer’s Allowance – for example, with more carers accessing welfare advice and support organisations for information regarding the new benefit or the case transfer process, and also positive impacts including future changes to the earnings threshold meaning carers can work and earn more in personal income. These impacts could be both positive and negative and it is not possible to identify all possible impacts at this stage. As noted previously, the Scottish Government would also alleviate these impacts by providing clear communications and information to stakeholders.

Test run of business forms

No new business forms will be brought in with the implementation of the proposed legislation. A new form for new applicants to the benefit will be introduced. This form will only be introduced after extensive user testing. It will be possible to make applications online, by post or by telephone. Support from Social Security Scotland with applications will also be available in all local authority areas.

Legal Aid Impact Test

During the Carer Support Payment (formerly ‘Scottish Carer’s Assistance’) consultation process, the Scottish Government also considered potential impacts on legal aid, and do not consider it is likely to increase the number of people requiring use of legal aid, given the likely rate of challenges to decisions about Carer Support Payment eligibility. Similarly, we anticipate there will be a very low rate of challenges to decisions as part of the case transfer process and therefore a minimal impact on legal aid.

Enforcement, sanctions and monitoring

There are anticipated to be no new burdens for businesses, local government or the third sector generated by these Regulations.

Implementation and delivery plan

Carer Support Payment Regulations will be introduced from the end of 2023 with a phased national roll-out from spring 2024. Carer Support Payment will launch initially in pilot areas to allow for testing of systems and processes on smaller volumes of applications, to ensure safe and secure delivery. A communications strategy will be developed in advance of the launch of Carer Support Payment and the transfer process, which will ensure that eligible unpaid carers, the third sector, local government, education sectors and welfare advice organisations are aware of the benefit, understand the eligibility criteria, as well as understanding how and when their award will transfer (if relevant). Social Security Scotland will handle all aspects of the individual’s transfer to minimise stress and anxiety.

Once Carer Support Payment has launched, we will continue to monitor take-up of the benefit and consider our approach to maximising this. Carer Support Payment acts as a key opportunity for the Scottish Government to improve support for carers and will help to achieve the Scottish Government’s key aims for carers.

Post-implementation

The Scottish Government will put in place a monitoring and evaluation process for Carer Support Payment prior to implementation. Once live, on-going stakeholder engagement with key stakeholders will also provide the Scottish Government with an opportunity to monitor the impact of the policy.