Carer Support Payment is not available to people who are aged 16 and in school full time. But you may be able to get it if you’re below the minimum school leaving age and have exceptional circumstances. Continue reading to find out about exceptional circumstances.
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 one of the following courses at school or college. This includes home-schooling. By 'studying' we mean in class or doing coursework:
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
But 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 in any of these circumstances:
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 you're eligibile 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.
Change of circumstances
You may be eligible for Carer Support Payment if you:
stop studying at school or college for 21 hours or more a week
stop doing a programme like No One Left Behind
turn 20
stop your current course and start doing HNDs, HNCs or university degrees
Other benefits you can get
You may be able to get Young Carer Grant .
Find more support for young carers
If you’re aged 16 to 19, you may be able to get support through the Education Maintenance Allowance .
Young Scot Package Transitional Bundle
You can get an extra transition bundle before you turn 19, including:
information about your rights as an adult unpaid carer
a £100 voucher for carers aged 18
£50 to open a savings account for carers aged 16 to 18
Making choices about work and education
Your local carer centre or young carer’s service can support you to make choices about work and education.
Find out about your options when you leave school
The Young Person's Guarantee
If you’re aged 16 to 24, you can get training and advice from the Young Person's Guarantee . They can help you find:
jobs
apprenticeships
courses
volunteering roles
Emotional support
Childline is a free, confidential helpline for anyone under 19 in the UK to chat about anything worrying them. It’s available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 0800 1111.
