Explainers
Payments to Carers
We assume that Scottish Carer’s Assistance (SCA) will replace Carer’s Allowance (CA), which is paid to individuals who provide unpaid care for someone who is disabled and has substantial caring needs.
Our indicative forecast of SCA covers the Scottish Government plans to introduce Carer’s Additional Person Payment (CAPP) to provide £10 per week to individuals receiving SCA and caring for more than one disabled person. We assume that CAPP is launched after completion of case transfer from DWP. We have also included the five priorities for change set in the consultation. These will expand eligibility for SCA and we assume they will also gradually be introduced after case transfer completes.
Social Security Scotland also provides additional support to carer’s in receipt of CA or SCA in Scotland. Carer’s Allowance Supplement (CAS) is paid twice a year and is an extra payment to people who already receive Carer’s Allowance . The first payment is usually made in June to people receiving Carer’s Allowance on a set date in April; the second payment is usually made in December to people receiving Carer’s Allowance on a set date in October.
Social Security Scotland also pays an annual Young Carer Grant for carers aged under nineteen. We do not produce a forecast for Young Carer Grant as the spending is below our materiality threshold.
Latest forecast
| £ Million | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scottish Carer’s Assistance | 294 | 312 | 372 | 438 | 503 | 556 | 589 |
| of which: Carer’s Allowance | 294 | 312 | 372 | 423 | 447 | 479 | 508 |
| of which: Carer’s Additional Person Payment | – | – | – | – | 11 | 13 | 14 |
| of which: Additional SCA Costs | – | – | – | 15 | 44 | 64 | 66 |
| Carer’s Allowance Supplement | 58 | 44 | 50 | 57 | 61 | 63 | 66 |
| Total carer’s expenditure | 351 | 356 | 422 | 495 | 563 | 619 | 654 |