New support payment available to Argyll and Bute carers

The new benefit, rolled out by Social Security Scotland, provides £81.90 per week to carers across the country.

From November 4, it is available to those in 19 additional local authority areas, including Argyll and Bute.

This marks the completion of the phased rollout of the benefit, which began in November 2023.

Carers must provide 35 or more hours of weekly care to someone receiving disability benefits in order to be eligible.

The Carer Support Payment replaces the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) Carer's Allowance.

It is available to a wider range of carers, including full-time students aged 20 or over, and students under 20 who are in advanced or higher education.

In June, the eligibility criteria were extended to include carers aged 16 to 19 in non-advanced education.

The rollout also introduced new backdating rules, allowing certain carers to apply for payments dating back to the benefit's introduction.

Shirley-Anne Somerville, cabinet secretary for social justice, said: "The importance of the role of unpaid carers should not be underestimated.

"Their work is vital to the people they look after and to society as a whole."

According to Carers Trust Scotland, around 35,000 unpaid carers are also attending college or university.

Paul Traynor, head of external affairs at Carers Trust Scotland, said: "The immense contribution of unpaid carers to society cannot be understated.

"Over 100,000 unpaid carers in Scotland are living in poverty and we hear all too often of the financial pressures of juggling studying and caring, where supplementing their income through employment is extremely challenging or not possible.

“The national roll out of Carer Support Payment will help make a significant difference to many carers’ lives and support more student carers to remain and succeed in education.”

More information on the Carer Support Payment and application procedures can be found here: mygov.scot/carer-support-payment.