How to apply for Carer Support Payment
You can apply for Carer Support Payment:
- using the online form
- on the phone
- in person
- by post
Before you apply
Learn about effects on other benefits
Carer Support Payment can affect the other benefits that you and the person you care for get. If you live with a partner, it could also affect their benefits.
Before you apply, find out how Carer Support Payment might affect other benefits.
Check if applications are open in your area
You can apply for Carer Support Payment now if you live in:
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Aberdeen City
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Aberdeenshire
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Angus
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Dundee City
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East Ayrshire
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Fife
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Moray
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North Ayrshire
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North Lanarkshire
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Perth and Kinross
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South Ayrshire
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South Lanarkshire
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the Western Isles
If you live anywhere else, you can apply for Carer Support Payment when applications open in your area. Or you can apply now for Carer's Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Find out more about Carer's Allowance at GOV.UK.
Carer Support Payment will be available across Scotland from November 2024.
Check if you can apply
What you need to apply
Before you apply, make sure you have your:
- National Insurance number (this information is optional but can speed up your application)
- bank or building society details
You also need details of the person you care for, including their:
- date of birth and address
- National Insurance number if they’re 16 or over (this information is optional but can speed up your application)
- Child Reference Number if they’re under 16
Backdating your payment
When you apply, you can ask Social Security Scotland to backdate your Carer Support Payment. Backdating means you may be awarded payments starting from a date in the past. Normally, you can ask to backdate for up to 13 weeks. To do this, you need to have met the eligibility criteria for Carer Support Payment on the date you’re backdating to.
Before you apply, read about backdating your payment.
Apply online
Follow these steps:
- Check if you can apply. We'll tell you if Carer Support Payment is available in your area.
- Register or sign in with myaccount.
You can save your application as you go, so you can come back to it when it suits you.
Apply on the phone
Call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 to apply on the phone.
Their opening times are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
If you need to contact Social Security Scotland from outside the UK, call +44 (0)138 2931 000. This call is not free but you can ask Social Security Scotland to call you back. Check with your phone provider for details of charges.
Apply in British Sign Language
If you’re a British Sign Language user, you can video call Social Security Scotland using the Contact Scotland BSL app.
Apply in other languages
You can call Social Security Scotland and ask for an interpreter in over 100 languages. They can connect you to an interpreter straight away, or you can book a call in advance.
Apply by post
If you want to fill in a paper form you can:
- call Social Security Scotland to get one posted to you
- download and print the form
The address to send your application to is shown at the end of the form.
You can get a large print paper form by contacting Social Security Scotland.
Apply in person
A client support adviser from Social Security Scotland can help you apply. They can meet you:
- at your home
- at a venue in your local community
- over the phone
- through a video call
Learn more about how a client support adviser can help you apply.
Questions you'll be asked
You can download the paper form to see the questions you’ll be asked when applying for Carer Support Payment.
Find out how Social Security Scotland uses your data.
Supporting information
Social Security Scotland will review your application form. After that, they might ask you to send them supporting information to confirm what you tell them in your application form.
They might need to see documents that show:
- how much you earn, if you work
- where you live
- your UK immigration status if you are not a British citizen
- if you've spent time outside the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man in the last 12 months
- you have a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland
- if you or a family member are in the UK armed forces or Civil Service
If you work, Social Security Scotland will need to be able to work out how much money you earn. So they might ask you for supporting information that shows how much you earn.
If you pay certain expenses, Social Security Scotland might ask you for supporting information about these. This is because they might be able to take some of your expenses off your earnings when they work out your take home pay. This will help them work out if you’re eligible for Carer Support Payment. They might want to see supporting information for:
- work-related expenses
- money you pay into a pension
- caring fees if you pay for care while you work
Learn more about Carer Support Payment if you work.
If you’re an employee
You will not need to send supporting information about your main earnings. Social Security Scotland will get this information from HMRC. If you have additional earnings, Social Security Scotland may ask you for supporting information about these.
If you’re self-employed
If you’ve been trading for more than 12 months, you’ll need to send your most recent finalised accounts or Self-Assessment tax return.
If you’ve been trading for less than 12 months, you’ll need to send your monthly income and expenses.
Sending documents
You can send documents:
- online
- by post
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