How to Register as a Carer in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Did you know you can get officially recognised as a carer in Scotland? Letting various organisations know you're a carer is a vital step towards getting the help you deserve.

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Scotland does things a little differently from the rest of the UK. Carer benefits are run by Social Security Scotland rather than the DWP, and your rights to local support come from the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016. Here's a simple guide to registering as a carer in Scotland and the organisations that can support you.

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1. Understand who qualifies as a carer

Firstly, it's important to understand what a carer is. A carer is someone who provides unpaid help to a family member, friend or neighbour who couldn't manage without that support because of illness, disability, a mental health condition or addiction. You don't need to live with the person, or care full-time, to count as a carer.

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Under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016, an adult carer is anyone aged 18 or over who has left school. A young carer is someone under 18, or 18 and still at school.

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You're far from alone. Scotland's Census 2022 recorded 627,700 unpaid carers, a 27.5% rise since 2011. Carer charities believe the true number is higher, because many people don't recognise themselves as carers.

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2. Ask for an Adult Carer Support Plan or Young Carer Statement

In Scotland, the carer's assessment is called an Adult Carer Support Plan, or a Young Carer Statement if you're a young carer. You don't have to be caring for a set number of hours to qualify.

The plan is a conversation about your caring role and what matters to you. It records, in writing:

• Your caring role
• Your physical, mental and emotional needs
• Whether you're able and willing to keep caring
• What support the council will provide
• An emergency plan for who will provide care if you're ill.

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Any support you're offered to meet your needs as a carer can't be charged for or means tested.

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How to get your plan: Contact your council's social work department or your local carers centre and ask for an Adult Carer Support Plan. In many areas, the carers centre arranges the plan on the council's behalf.

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3. Apply for Carer Support Payment

In Scotland, Carers Support Payment has replaced Carer's Allowance. It's paid by Social Security Scotland, and if you're eligible you're awarded two Scotland-only extras at the same time.

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Carer Support Payment

• £86.45 a week
• You must be 16 or over
• You must spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who gets a qualifying disability benefit
• You must take home £204 a week or less from work after tax, National Insurance and some expenses
• If you get the State Pension or certain other benefits, you may get less or you may not qualify

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Unlike Carer's Allowance, you're still eligible if you're in education: if you're age 16-19 you can claim while studying full time at university or on a college course such as an HNC or HND, but not usually while studying Highers or Nationals for 21 hours or more a week. If you're 20 or over, you can claim while studying any course.

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Scottish Carer Supplement

Since March 2026 this is now paid alongside your regular Carer Support Payment. It amounts to an extra £11.70 a week.

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Carer Additional Person Payment

If you look after more than one person on a qualifying benefit, you can claim £10.40 a week per extra person.

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Young Carer Grant

• For young carers aged 16 to 19
• Yearly payment of £405.10
• You must have been caring for 1-3 people for an average of 16 hours a week over the last three months
• The person you care for must receive a qualifying disability benefit.
• You aren't eligible if you already get Carer Support Payment, so if you care for 35 hours or more a week, apply for Young Carer Grant first.

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How to apply: You can find out more and apply at mygov.scot or by calling Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.

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4. Register as a carer with your GP

Another crucial step is to tell your GP practice that you're a carer and ask them to note it on your record. Carers can sometimes neglect their own health while focusing on the person they care for. Once your GP knows about your caring role, they can offer more tailored health advice, be more flexible with appointments, and point you towards your local carers centre. These centres can connect you with other carers, help you with an Adult Carer Support Plan, and provide advice on benefits and short breaks.

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5. Apply for a National Carers Card

Many unpaid carers find themselves needing to show that they're a carer, for example at venues, attractions or while travelling. The National Carers Card is designed to be recognised nationwide and abroad as proof of your carer status. Plus as a card holder, you get access to hundreds of discounts on everyday expenses such as groceries, mobility aids, food delivery, fashion and wellness. Apply for the National Carers Card here.