Scottish Carer's Assistance: consultation - easy read

Section 2: Extra Money for Carers in Scotland

Carer's Allowance Supplement

Carer's Allowance Supplement is paid by Social Security Scotland to carers who are getting Carer's Allowance and living in Scotland.

It gives extra support to carers. It is paid every six months and the payment amount this year is £231.40.

We have asked carers how the payment has helped them. They told us it has made a difference to their wellbeing. It helped them feel valued by the government.

We will keep making payments of Carer's Allowance Supplement until all eligible carers are getting Scottish Carer's Assistance.

Payment of Carer's Allowance Supplement in future

In the future we will pay the extra amount although we could pay this in a different way.

Carer's Allowance Supplement could be paid at the same time as Scottish Carer's Assistance payments.

Or Carer's Allowance Supplement could be paid as a lump sum instead, for example, every six months.

We think that payments of Carer's Allowance Supplement should be made with Scottish Carer's Assistance payments in future.

Question 10: Do you agree or disagree that Carer's Allowance Supplement should be paid with Scottish Carer's Assistance?

Agree / Disagree / Not sure

Please tell us more about your answer in the box below.

Carer's Additional Person Payment

Caring for more than one person can have a bigger impact on carers' health and wellbeing.

We want to help by giving extra support to carers who are caring for more than one person. We plan to make a new payment. We plan to call it Carer's Additional Person Payment.

Who will be able to get Carer's Additional Person Payment?

Carers must be getting Scottish Carer's Assistance. Carers will need to be caring for at least two people who are getting a disability benefit.

Carers will need to give 35 or more hours of care a week for the person they are getting Scottish Carer's Assistance for. Carers should be providing at least 20 hours of care a week for each additional person.

We do not plan to limit how many additional people a carer could get this payment for.

Question 11: Do you agree or disagree with the idea of Carer's Additional Person Payment?

Agree / Disagree / Not sure

Please tell us more about your answer in the box below.

How much will Carer's Additional Person Payment be?

The payment would be £10 per week. The amount will be increased each year as living costs go up.

We suggest that Carer's Additional Person Payment will be paid at the same time as a carer's Scottish Carer's Assistance. This will be every week or every 4 weeks.

Question 12: Do you agree or disagree with how often Carer's Additional Person Payment will be paid?

Agree / Disagree / Not sure

Please tell us more about your answer in the box below.

Will it affect other benefits?

Carer's Additional Person Payment will not reduce the amount of support carers can get from benefits like Universal Credit and Income Support. This has been agreed with the UK Government.

Carers can be taxed on their Carer's Allowance if they are earning over a certain amount. We are talking with HM Revenue and Customs to see if people will need to pay tax on Carer's Additional Person Payment.

Targeting Carer's Additional Person Payment at carers getting Scottish Carer's Assistance

Carer's Additional Person Payment would not be paid to people who get another overlapping benefit. This includes people who get a State Pension.

We will only pay Carer's Additional Person Payment to carers who get Scottish Carer's Assistance.

This is because carers getting Scottish Carer's Assistance are likely to be on lower incomes. We want to target the new payment at carers on the lowest incomes.

We know that not everyone gets the benefits they are entitled to. We will work to help people who would be able to get new benefits to apply.

Question 13: Do you agree or disagree with the idea to target Carer's Additional Person Payment at carers who are getting payments of Scottish Carer's Assistance?

Agree / Disagree / Not sure

Please tell us more about your answer in the box below.