Young Carer Grant regulations: consultation analysis

Residency

The consultation document set out that Scottish claimants will be defined as those who are habitually resident in the European Economic Area (EEA) and are ordinarily resident in Scotland. This reflects existing practice where periods of residence and presence in any EEA jurisdiction can count towards meeting the eligibility criteria for accessing social security in any other. The Scottish Government sought views on the proposed approach to residency.

Q7. Do you have any comments on the proposed approach to residency?

Less than a quarter of respondents (23%) indicated that they had any comments on this proposed approach, with most (73%) indicating they had no comments in this respect, and a further 4% not providing a response.

Those who supported the proposal felt that requiring applicants to be habitually resident in Scotland was a reasonable and sensible requirement, and noted that it would be consistent with the approach taken for other devolved benefits.

Others, however, felt that all young carers should be entitled to the grant, regardless of their immigration status, provided they meet all the other requirements:

"Every young carer should get it regardless of their residency status." (Individual)

"I think that people without an immigration status should still be able to get the grant as long as they can prove everything else." (Individual)

Indeed, a few respondents felt that the grant should be available to asylum seekers and other young people. Two respondents also noted that, while Scottish Ministers intend to make the case to the UK Government for an exception to be made for the Best Start Grant to allow asylum seekers and those who have no recourse to public funds to receive this support, the same should be done for the Young Carer Grant to ensure that these young carers do not lose out on this support:

"We are in general agreement with the proposed approach to residency. However, we believe that the grant should be extended to asylum seeker young carers or other young people who have no recourse to public funds, without this impacting their immigration status." (Organisation)

Two organisations also noted that consideration will be needed regarding how Brexit might affect this policy with regards those resident in the EEA, as the regulations as they currently stand would mean that no one would qualify for a Young Carer Grant should the UK leave the EEA.