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Carer Support Payment

If you study

Last updated
4 Nov 2024

If you study part time

You can get Carer Support Payment if you study any course and spend less than 21 hours a week in class or doing coursework. 

If you study full time

If you're aged 20 or older

You can get Carer Support Payment if you’re aged 20 or older and you study any course. 

If you're aged 16, 17, 18 or 19

You can get Carer Support Payment if you study full time: 

  • at university 

  • on a college course such as a Higher National Certificate or Higher National Diploma 

You cannot normally get Carer Support Payment if you spend 21 hours or more a week studying for one of the following courses at school or college. This includes home-schooling. By 'studying' we mean in class or doing coursework. This can be for: 

  • National Certificates (NC) levels 1 to 6 

  • National Qualifications (NQ) levels 1 to 6 

  • Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQ) level 1 or 2 

  • Scottish Highers or Advanced Highers 

  • a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, called a Baccalaureate 

  • similar courses at school or college, for example A levels  

Also, you cannot normally get Carer Support Payment if you do one of these training programmes: 

  • No One Left Behind 

  • another training programme supported by your local council, which are sometimes delivered by third sector organisations 

Exceptional circumstances

There are exceptional circumstances where you can get Carer Support Payment when you’re doing those courses or training programmes. Since June 2024, you may be eligible if: 

  • you do not get support from your parents or guardians 

  • you’re responsible for a child or qualifying young person (including being a foster parent) 

  • you get a disability benefit and have been assessed or treated as having ‘limited capability for work’ 

  • you’re a student and you live with a partner who is not 

  • you and a partner you live with are both students, but only your partner meets any of these exceptional circumstances 

If any of these exceptional circumstances apply to you, you may be able to backdate your Carer Support Payment. But you could not be awarded Carer Support Payment for any date before June 2024. 

If you’re eligible for Universal Credit or income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Social Security Scotland can take this as evidence that at least one of those exceptional circumstances applies to you. 

More support if you're studying 

Find more support if you're studying while providing care.

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