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Carer Support Payment

How to apply for Carer Support Payment

Last updated
4 Nov 2024

You can apply for Carer Support Payment:

  • using the online form
  • on the phone
  • by post
  • in person

Before you apply

Check you're eligible for Carer Support Payment

Use our eligibility checker to see if you're eligible to get Carer Support Payment.

Check if you're eligible

Learn about effects on other benefits

Carer Support Payment can affect the other benefits that you and the person you care for get. If you live with a partner, it could also affect their benefits.

Find out how Carer Support Payment might affect other benefits.

Backdating your payment

You can ask Social Security Scotland to backdate your Carer Support Payment. Backdating means you may be awarded payments starting from a date in the past. 

Learn about backdated Carer Support Payment.

What you need to apply

Before you apply, make sure you have your:

  • National Insurance number (this information is optional but can speed up your application)
  • bank or building society details

You also need details of the person you care for, including their:

  • date of birth and address 
  • National Insurance number if they’re 16 or over (this information is optional but can speed up your application)
  • Child Reference Number if they’re under 16 (if you know it)

Apply online

Register or sign in with myaccount.

You can save your application as you go, so you can come back to it when it suits you.

Apply online

Apply on the phone

Call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 to apply on the phone.  

Their opening times are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.  

If you need to contact Social Security Scotland from outside the UK, call +44 (0)1382 931 000. This call is not free but you can ask Social Security Scotland to call you back. Check with your phone provider for details of charges.  

Apply in British Sign Language

If you’re a British Sign Language user, you can video call Social Security Scotland using the Contact Scotland BSL app.

Apply in other languages

You can call Social Security Scotland and ask for an interpreter in over 100 languages. They can connect you to an interpreter straight away, or you can book a call in advance.

Apply by post

If you want to fill in a paper form you can either:

The address to send your application to is shown at the end of the form.  

You can get a large print paper form by contacting Social Security Scotland.

Apply in person

A client support adviser from Social Security Scotland can help you apply. They can meet you:

  • at your home
  • at a venue in your local community
  • over the phone
  • through a video call

Learn more about how a client support adviser can help you apply.

Questions you'll be asked in the form

You can download the paper form to see the questions you’ll be asked when applying for Carer Support Payment.

Find out how Social Security Scotland uses your data.

Supporting information

Social Security Scotland will review your application form. After that, they might ask you to send them supporting information to confirm what you tell them in your application form.

They might need to see documents that show:

  • how much you earn, if you work
  • where you live
  • your UK immigration status if you are not a British citizen
  • if you've spent time outside the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man in the last 12 months
  • you have a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland
  • if you or a family member are in His Majesty's Armed Forces or Civil Service

If you work, Social Security Scotland will need to be able to work out how much money you earn. So they might ask you for supporting information that shows how much you earn. 

If you pay certain expenses, Social Security Scotland might ask you for supporting information about these. This is because they might be able to take some of your expenses off your earnings when they work out your take home pay. This will help them work out if you’re eligible for Carer Support Payment. They might want to see supporting information for:

  • work-related expenses
  • money you pay into a pension
  • caring fees if you pay for care while you work

Learn more about Carer Support Payment if you work.

If you’re an employee

You will not normally need to send supporting information about your main earnings. Social Security Scotland will get this information from HMRC. If you have additional earnings, Social Security Scotland may ask you for supporting information about these. 

If you’re self-employed

If you’ve been trading for more than 12 months, you’ll need to send your most recent finalised accounts or Self-Assessment tax return.

If you’ve been trading for less than 12 months, you’ll need to send your monthly income and expenses.

Sending documents

You can send documents:

  • online
  • by post

Find out more about how to send documents.

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