Carer benefits evaluation: phase 1 - case transfer and Carer Support Payment

5. Other findings

While the commissioned research was focused on the outcomes that were identified for Carer Support Payment within the evaluation logic model, other themes arose during the research and are reported here.

5.1 Additional positive impacts of receiving Carer Support Payment

Spending time with the cared for person

Many interviewees said that receiving Carer Support Payment reduced pressure that was caused by having to prioritise work over family and caring needs. This was described as valuable because it allowed them to spend more time with the person they cared for, and meant they were less stressed about balancing employment with their caring role.

“Getting Carer Support Payment has allowed me to be there for my son… I don’t have the stress of juggling a full-time job and caring for him and his needs.” (Case transfer client)

“It is a good thing and enables me to be here and not have to go out to work and, you know, just gives me a bit more financial security.” (Successful applicant)

Interactions with other agencies

A few carers and support organisations commented on the benefits of being recognised as a carer due to receiving Carer Support Payment. They highlighted that this helped during interactions with other agencies, such as the Job Centre, allowing them to concentrate on caring.

“It stops the pressure from the Job Centre to be looking for work while trying to care for someone.” (Successful applicant)

“It defines people as a carer and they feel as though they're getting an allowance for that caring… they’re defined [as a carer] rather than a job seeker.” (Support organisation)

Help with costs associated with health conditions

Some carers said that receiving Carer Support Payment helped them to cover the additional costs that arose from the cared-for person’s health condition. These included costs such as specific equipment or products (such as oils and ointments), clothing and shoes, dietary needs or fuel for hospital appointments. Some also noted that they had been able to access discounts or services specifically for carers which helped them to manage costs.

"When it comes to, for example, food and clothing especially, it helps because some of his clothing can be on the slightly expensive side... the extra little bit of money helps to go towards the slightly more expensive things that he kind of has to have.” (Successful applicant)

“As soon as you put sensory in front of something, as soon as you put disability, or autism, ADHD, whatever, in front of something the price just goes straight up. And there is no support. I haven’t had any support to get help towards that, apart from this money.” (Successful applicant)

“It has allowed us to access certain things, there’s places that you can go and you can get a discount for being a carer, so it does support on that as well.” (Case transfer client)

5.2 Impact on carers who have health issues

During the commissioned research, some carers who had their own long-term health conditions were asked about how these impacted on their caring role. They said that it could be very challenging to manage their own conditions and because of this caring could sometimes affect their own health.

“It impacts [the caring role] a lot. I find it really difficult… My husband is prone to falling. That's one of the things that's wrong with him so I'm struggling to get him up. In the hot weather, I've really struggled to be able to do as much as I want to do. I still do it but it impacts me, it impacts my health.” (Case transfer client)

While these carers noted that receiving Carer Support Payment was some financial help and some reported limited support to help with their condition, most did not have any help in managing both caring and their own health.

“Financially, it has helped me getting [Carer Support Payment].” (Case transfer client)

“There’s very limited support where I live because I live in the countryside, and there's no family nearby.” (Successful applicant)

5.3 Interaction with other benefits

During the commissioned research participants were asked if Carer Support Payment had impacted on any other benefits that they receive, with 43% of survey respondents reporting that there had been an impact (n=126). A few carers commented on the interaction between Carer Support Payment and their State Pension, as discussed in Section 4.2.1. However, the majority of comments related to deductions from Universal Credit. More details on the interactions between Carer Support Payment and Universal Credit are given in the box below.

Policy details: Carer Support Payment and Universal Credit interactions

Carer Support Payment, like Carer’s Allowance, is an ‘income-replacement’ benefit. This means it is treated as income in ‘income-related’ benefits like Universal Credit. Where a carer getting Universal Credit is awarded Carer Support Payment, their Carer Support Payment will reduce their Universal Credit at a rate of £1 per £1. The full rate of Carer Support Payment is £83.30 a week (2025-26 rate).

At the same time, a Carer Element can be added to the Universal Credit award in recognition of the caring role, if the carer was not getting this already. The Carer Element is worth £201.68 a month (2025-26 rate). Carers getting Carer Support Payment on the relevant qualifying dates will also receive Carer’s Allowance Supplement (two payments of £293.50 in 2025-26).

Overall, this means that while getting Carer Support Payment will reduce the amount of Universal Credit a carer will get, carers should be better off overall because of the combined support they receive across the three benefits – Universal Credit including the Carer Element, Carer Support Payment, and Carer’s Allowance Supplement. Carer’s Allowance Supplement has no impact on Universal Credit.

There are, however, some known issues in relation to Carer Support Payment interactions with Universal Credit:

1. Where a carer receives a backdated award of Carer Support Payment, there is no way at present that the payment of Carer Support Payment for the past period can be used to ‘offset’ the overpayment of Universal Credit that would be created (as Universal Credit would need to be reduced for the past period). When carers receive backdated payments, particularly where these are large sums, this can have a significant impact on the Universal Credit award for the assessment period in which these are received, and some overpayment recovery may be required. While, as set out above, the carer should be better off overall across all forms of support, overpayments and overpayment recovery can be a cause of concern and may be confusing. Information is provided on Mygov (Who you should tell about Carer Support Payment - mygov.scot) for carers on how Carer Support Payment – and backdated support in particular (Backdating Carer Support Payment - mygov.scot) – can affect Universal Credit.

2. Some carers faced issues when their benefits transferred from Carer’s Allowance to Carer Support Payment where they were getting Universal Credit. In some cases, Universal Credit counted both Carer’s Allowance and Carer Support Payment in the same Universal Credit assessment period even though there was no actual overlap in the payments. This meant that for some carers, Universal Credit was reduced by more than it should have been until the situation was resolved, and some of their other benefits may also have been affected.

3. Processes within the DWP for Universal Credit mean that where a carer is awarded ‘underlying entitlement’ to Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment (where they are awarded one of these benefits but receive no payments), their Universal Credit is adjusted as if they are getting payment in full. This is then adjusted again when the carer contacts the DWP to confirm the award is one of underlying entitlement only. When carers with underlying entitlement to Carer’s Allowance who were also receiving Universal Credit had their benefits transferred to Carer Support Payment, this process meant that the Carer Support Payment was treated as being paid in full from the point of transfer. This meant carers getting no payments of Carer Support Payment had to contact Universal Credit to update them and would have received a lower rate of Universal Credit than they were entitled to until this was resolved.

Many carers in the survey and interviews felt that the interaction between the two benefits had left them no better off than if they were not receiving Carer Support Payment.

“The equivalent amount is taken off Universal Credit which feels like I am caring full-time for free.” (Case transfer client)

“I wish Universal Credit wouldn't discount all the money I get as a carer” (Successful applicant)

Some carers and support organisations felt that Carer Support Payment should not be treated as income in this way when calculating Universal Credit. Others had been unaware that Universal Credit would be affected by Carer Support Payment, had said that this had been confusing and resulted in unexpected impacts on their finances. Some said that the system was unclear and confusing.

“Carer Support Payment is treated as income when calculating Universal Credit, which I feel is wholly unethical.” (Support organisation)

“I've never been on benefits and was embarrassed recently when I had to apply for Universal Credit as my redundancy money has ran out. I didn't realise that [Carer Support Payment] was taken into account and I’ve to live off under £600 per month.” (Unsuccessful applicant)

“Universal Credit has been affected. I do not get this.” (Case transfer client)

A few participants also reported that the reduction applied to their Universal Credit had been more than they received for Carer Support Payment.

“Universal Credit took off both payments – the Carer’s Allowance and Carer Support Payment – off my payments. I had to make numerous phone calls to [DWP and Social Security Scotland], none of which knew what they were doing, it caused a lot of stress.” (Case transfer client)

A few felt that while it was fair to have deductions from Universal Credit, the amount should be lower.

“I understand taking some out because it's basically classed as a job, but I think the amount that they remove is a little bit extensive… £360 is quite a lot of money to be deducting.” (Case transfer client)