Carer's Allowance vs Carer Support Payment
DWP (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) vs Social Security Scotland
The short answer
Applies automatically based on where you live. Students aged 20+ in full-time education can claim Carer Support Payment in Scotland (not Carer's Allowance in the rest of the UK).
Carer Support Payment is the Scottish replacement for Carer's Allowance. The £83.30 weekly rate, 35-hour caring threshold, and earnings cap are aligned. Student carers are treated more generously in Scotland — a meaningful difference for people caring while studying.
- England
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
Carer's Allowance
Administered by DWP. Applies in England, Wales, Northern Ireland.
Weekly DWP payment for people in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone receiving a qualifying disability benefit.
- Scotland
Carer Support Payment
Administered by Social Security Scotland. Applies in Scotland.
Scotland's replacement for Carer's Allowance, administered by Social Security Scotland, for people providing at least 35 hours a week of care to someone receiving a qualifying disability benefit.
Rates side-by-side
| Rate | Amount | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Carer's Allowance standard rate | £86.45 | WEEKLY |
| Rate | Amount | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Carer Additional Person Payment | £10.40 | WEEKLY |
| Carer Support Payment | £86.45 | WEEKLY |
| Scottish Carer Supplement | £11.70 | WEEKLY |
Eligibility side-by-side
- AGEThe claimant must be 16 or over. [GOV.UK]
- WORK STATUSThe claimant must spend at least 35 hours a week caring for the person. [GOV.UK]
- RESIDENCEThe claimant must have been in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years (does not apply to refugees or those with humanitarian protection status). [GOV.UK]
- RESIDENCEThe claimant must normally live in England or Wales, or live abroad as a member of the armed forces (may still be eligible if moving to or already living in an EEA country or Switzerland). [GOV.UK]
- WORK STATUSThe claimant must not be in full-time education. [GOV.UK]
- WORK STATUSThe claimant must not be studying for 21 hours a week or more. [GOV.UK]
- + 8 more rules on the detail page.
- AGEApplicant must be aged 16 or over. [Scottish Government]
- RESIDENCEApplicant must usually live in Scotland, or have lived in England, Wales, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man for at least 26 weeks of the last 52 weeks. [Scottish Government]
- WORK STATUSFor Carer Support Payment, the applicant must provide unpaid care for 35 hours or more a week. [Scottish Government]
- INCOMEFor Carer Support Payment, the applicant must not earn above a certain amount if they work. [Scottish Government]
- OTHERFor Carer Additional Person Payment, the applicant must also get Carer Support Payment and provide unpaid care for the additional person for 20 hours or more a week. [Scottish Government]
- AGEThere is more criteria to meet if the applicant is aged 16 to 19 and they study. [Scottish Government]
- + 5 more rules on the detail page.
Which one applies to you?
These benefits are paired: each person qualifies for one of the two depending on where they live. Run the triage tool for a nation-aware answer.