Carer Benefit Advisory Group minutes: June 2025

Attendees and apologies

Present       

• Angela Toal, Child Poverty Action Group
• Anne Baldock, One Parent Families Scotland
• David Anderson, Social Security Analysis, Forecasting and Evaluation Unit, Scottish Government (SG)
• Dr Mark Bevan, Salena Begley MBE, Family Fund
• Joe McCready, Carers Scotland
• Miranda Ralston, Social Security Scotland Communications
• Paul Traynor, Carers Trust
• Sean Mulgrew, Scottish Government Programme
• Sharon McGuire, Scottish Government Carer Policy
• Thomas Mulvey, Marie Curie
• Alice Crawford, David Hilber, Dawn Kane, Kate Thomson-McDermott (Chair), Victoria Boal (Secretariat), Scottish Government Carer Benefits Policy

 

Apologies

• Ali MacLeod, Health and Social Care Partnership
• Claire Cairns, The Coalition of Carers in Scotland
• Fiona Collie, Carers Scotland
• John Cunningham, COSLA
• Roisin Connolly, Connecting Carers

Items and actions

Actions and minutes from previous meetings, and updates

Members raised concerns over processing times for Carer Support Payment (CSP) applications, highlighting a case where it took six months to reach a decision. Officials assured members that Social Security Scotland is aware of the issue and working to process applications as quickly as possible, and noted that applications may take longer to process where additional information is needed. Additionally, as applications where clients have earnings from employment can be complex, guidance has been updated and additional sessions delivered to support Social Security Scotland staff working on these cases.  

Members also provided feedback that there is not an editable PDF file that client advisors can use for CSP applications taken via phone. Officials from Programme advised that they are currently exploring how to make editable PDFs, with the Discovery phase still to be undertaken. Equalities data is also being taken into consideration to ensure that the PDFs will be accessible for clients.

Action: Officials to look into this and cascade the information back to members.

Carer Support Payment and Young Carer Grant – amendment regulations

Officials provided an update on the amendment regulations. The current intention is for these to be laid in parliament on 01 September this year. If passed, these regulations will provide for a number of improvements to both CSP and Young Carer Grant (YCG). The YCG change, which would extend support to young carers aged 19, is planned for November of this year, and the intention is for the main CSP improvements to be introduced into in March 2026.

Some smaller changes to update the CSP regulations are also planned for November and include:

• a correction to an issue identified in how earnings affect eligibility 
• clarification of certain effective dates rules and provisions for awarding additional backdating after an initial application.

The main CSP changes will replace Carer Support Payment with ‘Carer Support’ which will be one benefit with three components – CSP, Scottish Carer Supplement (which replaces Carer’s Allowance Supplement), and the new Carer Additional Person Payment.

The draft regulations were scrutinised by the Scottish Commission on Social Security, but officials intend to share a revised draft as some updates were made after initial scrutiny. 

Officials also updated on separate ‘cross border’ regulations. At present the case transfer process means that people receiving Carer’s Allowance in the rest of the UK can have their benefits automatically transferred to CSP if they move to Scotland. SG was not able to reach an agreement with the DWP to continue to do this after the main case transfer process completes, so as of 06 November 2025, this process will be different. Carers moving to Scotland will receive a ‘run on’ of Carer’s Allowance from DWP but will need to make an application for CSP. The ‘cross border’ regulations provide for the new process which is intended to prevent gaps in entitlement to support for those moving within the UK. 

Members were thanked for their continuous feedback on the amendment regulations thus far.

Action: Officials will provide a more detailed run through of the provisions in the amendment regulations at the next CBAG meeting, after members agreed that this would be helpful.

Case Transfer 

Officials confirmed that over 99% of people who were receiving Personal Independence Payment in Scotland have had their benefits transferred over to Adult Disability Payment.

The DWP have advised that there are only three complex cases of Carer’s Allowance remaining that require transfer of benefits over to CSP, with the process well on track to complete by the end of 2025.

Officials noted that the findings of Social Security Scotland’s Client Survey found carers were positive overall about the case transfer process. It was acknowledged that some people were worried that they would feel anxious, but instead felt that they were well informed throughout the process. There was also good feedback provided on the communications received about the transfer. Officials acknowledged that there were some issues raised in the feedback but welcomed the fact that this was positive overall.

Members were urged to encourage anyone still in receipt of Carer’s Allowance in Scotland who had not received any communications about case transfer to contact Social Security Scotland.

Officials updated on the plans for situations where carers in Scotland were missed from the case transfer process. This may happen where a carer has the wrong details on their award – for example, due to an input error, or not updating their address details with the DWP. If carers are identified after the case transfer process has competed they will need to apply for CSP. Officials advised that no agreement could be reached with the DWP to allow benefits for these carers to be transferred automatically. However, as long as the carer makes an application for CSP within twenty six weeks of Scottish ministers learning that their case has been missed from the transfer process, Social Security Scotland will be able to backdate the CSP award to the date their Carer’s Allowance ended so there is no gap in entitlement. 

The provisions in the cross-border regulations will also make minor changes to the residence and presence rules, and members are able to contact SG officials if they have any further queries.

Any other business 

The issue of eligibility for carer benefits for foster carers was raised by the Chair. CSP regulations were drafted reflecting the Carers (Scotland) Act so that carers providing care under a contract would not be entitled. This is because Carer Support Payment, like support under the Act, is intended for unpaid carers. However, in live delivery of Carer Support Payment it has been identified that foster care agreements may be considered contracts, meaning foster carers may be excluded from receiving Carer Support Payment. This would not align with Carer’s Allowance which is available to foster carers where they otherwise meet eligibility criteria, and this would need to be considered in relation to carers whose benefits had transferred from Carer’s Allowance. Officials are considering eligibility for Carer Support Payment for foster carers and sought initial views from members.

Officials confirmed that kinship carers are treated differently – they are covered under the Carers Act, and as such would be eligible for Carer Support Payment where they otherwise meet the criteria. Officials also noted there were discussions ongoing regarding the implications of Self-Directed Support.

Members advised that this issue had been raised with their organisations. It was queried whether foster carers of a disabled child would be entitled to additional support. Officials noted that local authorities can provide more support when the foster child is disabled, with the support reflective of the fostering role. 

Members also requested that should the meetings have to be rescheduled, that there be a survey to find the most suitable date beforehand. 

Carer Benefits Evaluation  

Officials confirmed that the fieldwork has started for the Carer Benefits Evaluation. A survey has been issued to client panels, but will still need to go out to wider client data base, most likely from June to mid-August. It was noted that school holidays overlap with this, so may slow the process down slightly. 

The goal is to have findings to present in August, with the final report being released in November. 

Officials have also started drafting invitations to participate in phase two of the evaluation. This will consist of a large-scale survey, and officials are planning to publish the resulting report in early spring. 

The team are also conducting interviews with Social Security Scotland staff for the first phase of evaluation, as well as looking to speak to people from carer support organisations. 

Members were welcomed to put forward anyone that they may be aware of who are able to contribute to this evaluation; with some members already having volunteered to take part.

‘Cost of Caring’ report

Dr Mark Bevan of Family Fund presented on their recent ‘Cost of Caring’ report.

All of the participants in the research were in receipt of support from Family Funds, and all caring for a disabled child on a low income. The findings for this presentation were drawn from Scotland.

The findings suggest that almost half of families surveyed find that making ends meet is difficult. One of the main drivers for this is the additional cost of raising a child or young person with a disability or illness – e.g. specialist equipment, wear and tear in the home etc.

90% of parent carers noted that they do not have any savings or investments, with 86% highlighting that they do not have any money to replace or repair major electrical goods such as fridges or cookers. 83% of respondents were in some form of debt, with some parent carers also noting that they had to find a way to fund private care, as NHS care was not available. Many reported having no energy and feeling isolated.

A number of parent carers advised that they themselves had to go without meals regularly to provide for their child. Moreover, some reported that they are unable to work as they have caring commitments. 

Participants in the research also highlighted here a lack of appropriate childcare, or affordable childcare. It was noted that childcare can act as a barrier to parent carers accessing work or other opportunities, e.g. where there no after school care available or gaps in the available childcare support for disabled children. There was a request for childminders to be trained in supporting disabled children. 

The report called for policy to take into account that increasing paid work is not a viable solution to poverty, with many carers themselves disabled. It was suggested that interventions should holistically address this, with solutions providing flexible support.

The importance of prioritising the wellbeing of carers to avoid crisis point was also raised. It was noted that this can result in long term social and economic consequences.

Members also raised the issue that the current Westminster Green Paper on welfare reform is likely to take financial support away from disabled people and disabled carers. Officials confirmed that Scottish ministers have committed to not replicating the proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment in Adult Disability Payment.

Action: Officials to ensure that the findings of the report are reflected in impact assessments, and share the report with colleagues working on low income benefits.

Action: Officials will also try and ensure that a colleague from disability benefits is present at the next meeting, to address concerns regarding the Green Paper. There is still a question of work capability assessments and their links to reserved benefits