Financial help if you are caring for someone with a disability or illness

Last updated: 10/04/2025

Carer Support Payment

The Carer Support Payment has replaced the Carer’s Allowance in Scotland. Find out more about Carer Support Payment.

You may get Carer Support Payment if you care for an adult or child for at least 35 hours per week.  The care you provide can include helping the person you care for to wash, cook, shop and attend medical appointments. The person you care for does not have to live with or be related to you.

Related information

Carer’s Allowance Unit (Monday – Friday 8 am – 6 pm)  

Telephone: 0800 731 0297

Textphone: 0800 731 0317

Young Carer Grant

If you are 16, 17 or 18 years old and care for someone who is getting Personal Independence Payment (PIP) daily living component, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Child Disability Payment care component at middle or highest rate, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or Armed Forces Independence Payment you may be able to claim a young carer’s grant.

How much is it?

The grant of £390.25 is paid once a year and you may be able to get it for 3 years.

How to apply

To apply for the Young Carer Grant download, and return, a paper application form, apply for the Young Carer Grant online or call Social Security Scotland.

Social Security Scotland: 0800 182 2222 Mon – Fri, 8am – 6pm

Download an application form or apply online.

See more information.

 

Related information

Call Social Security Scotland: 0800 182 2222 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

View Privacy policy

Covering your tracks

You may not want other people to know that you’ve been searching for information or help from OPFS.

When browsing the internet whether on a mobile phone, tablet or computer, you leave a ‘history’ trail of pages and sites you’ve visited.

It’s impossible to completely avoid being tracked online but if you’re worried about someone knowing which sites you’ve been looking at, there are some things you can do to help cover your tracks.

If you’re using a laptop or desktop computer, try keeping another document or website open in a new tab or window while browsing. If someone comes in the room and you don’t want them to see what you’re looking at, you can quickly switch to another window or tab.

Deleting browsing history

You can delete the history of websites you’ve visited, but it’s important to know that if you delete your browsing history, someone else using the same device may notice.

If you share a tablet, mobile phone, laptop or computer with someone, they might notice that passwords or website addresses have disappeared from their history.

Find out how to remove your browsing history and other data from some of the most commonly used browsers:

Browsing in Private mode (incognito)

When browsing ‘incognito’, the internet browser won’t store cookies or record your browsing history on the computer, mobile or tablet.

This option is available on popular web browsers i.e. -

Toolbars

If you use a search toolbar in your web browser, remember that your searched items can be saved as part of your history. Find out how to delete your searched items from the following search engines: