People who get the Carer’s Allowance will automatically be paid a supplement of £221 in Scotland. The payments will be backdated to April.

This is the first of the payments which the new Scottish Social Security System is paying out. The Carer’s Allowance paid by the UK Government’s DWP is £64.60 a week. The Carer’s Allowance Supplement will be paid out twice a year and increases the payments from the UK’s Department of Work and Pensions by 13%.

The extra payment  comes at a time when household budgets are stretched to the limit and increasing numbers of people are relying on Foodbanks for their basic needs. The payment works out at an additional £8.50 a week.

Shirley-Anne Somerville,Cabinet Secretary for Social Security in the Scottish Government,  said:

“Making these payments will represent a historic moment, launching a new public service that will deliver a social security system that treats people with dignity, fairness and respect.”

“We recognise the important contribution carers make, and we believe the current total paid out to them is not enough. This supplementary payment allows us to get more money in the pockets of carers in Scotland as quickly as possible.

“We have always made clear we believe that Carer’s Allowance should be the same rate as Jobseeker’s Allowance. Having new powers over social security means we can make this a reality and this additional payment is in recognition of  the important contribution carers make to society.”

Those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance will be sent a letter about the supplement with  the first payments being made between September and October.

You can read more about Scotland’s new Social Security System here: Scotland’s Social Security System Takes Shape