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Carer Support Payment

After you apply for Carer Support Payment

Last updated
9 Jun 2025

After you submit your application, Social Security Scotland might contact you if they need more information. They might ask you to send some documents to support your application.

You can find more information about this in how to apply.

Social Security Scotland will send you a letter once they’ve made a decision about your application.

They’ll decide after they review:

  • your completed application
  • all the documents they need from you, or your appointee if you have one

If you or your partner get income related benefits

Social Security Scotland may contact you if you or your partner get any of these benefits:

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Pension Credit

This is because Carer Support Payment could reduce the amount you or your partner get from those 4 benefits.

If the Department for Work and Pensions overpay you

If you’re awarded Carer Support Payment, Social Security Scotland will work with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) who’ll adjust the amount you or your partner get from those 4 benefits.

DWP cannot adjust your benefits or your partner’s benefits straight away. This means DWP may overpay you or your partner and then ask for some money back.

Social Security Scotland can reduce your first payment of Carer Support Payment. This means you and your partner would not need to pay money back to DWP.

The application form for Carer Support Payment asks if you’d like Social Security Scotland to reduce your first payment so you and your partner do not have to pay money back to DWP.

If you do not consent to this, Social Security Scotland can pay your first payment of Carer Support Payment in full. You or your partner may then have to pay money back to DWP for any overpayment of those 4 benefits.

If you disagree with a decision

The letter you get from Social Security Scotland will tell you what to do if you disagree with their decision.

You can ask them to look at their decision again. This is called requesting a redetermination or appeal.

If you want to do this, you can ask for help from:

If you no longer want to apply

Contact Social Security Scotland and ask them to withdraw your application. You can only do this if Social Security Scotland has not yet decided about your application.

If Social Security Scotland has decided to award you Carer Support Payment, you can ask them to end the award.

You can make a new application for Carer Support Payment later if you want to.

If you have any questions, including about your decision, contact Social Security Scotland.

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