The Scottish Government have now published regulations for the new Carer Support Payment. This payment will, over time, replace Carer's Allowance in Scotland.  

The regulations are first considered by the Scottish Commission on Social Security (SCoSS) who will be engaging with carers and organisations on their views.  The briefing which you can download below sets out the proposals in the regulations and the timeline for SCoSS, scrutiny by the Scottish Parliament and roll out of the new Carer Support Payment.

On launch, much of Carers Support Payment will be broadly similar to Carer's Allowance initally but there will be some differences between Carer Support Payment and Carers Allowance.  The Scottish Government has set out the changes they plan to make in the regulations which include:

• The biggest change is for unpaid carers in full-time education. Currently, if you are in full-time education, you cannot receive Carer’s Allowance.  However, from launch in Spring 2024, it is planned to extend entitlement for Carer Support Payment to unpaid carers over 20 years old in full-time education at any level and to those aged 16 to 19 in full-time advanced further and higher education (studying at HNC level and above).
• they will update the "past presence test" to make it easier for those moving to Scotland from outwith the Common Travel Area to access the benefit more quickly. 
• changes to how Carer Support Payment is paid.  Currently you can receive Carer’s Allowance weekly or 4 weekly.  However, new claims of Carer Support Payment will be paid every four weeks, with weekly advance payments only being available in case of caring for someone with a terminal illness.

There are further changes proposed once everyone on Carer's Allowance has been transferred to Carer Support Payment and these are also set out within the briefing.