Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed has welcomed new proposals laid before the Scottish Parliament which will see unpaid carers in Stirling receive greater financial support, including a brand-new annual payment worth up to £520 for those who care for more than one person.
The proposed Carer Additional Person Payment is expected to benefit around 18,000 people across Scotland and will form part of the SNP Scottish Government’s new Carer Support benefit package. This marks another milestone in Scotland’s distinctive approach to social security, built on the principles of dignity, fairness and respect. Other recent measures include extending the Young Carer Grant to 19 year olds, widening access to Carer Support following the death of the cared-for person, and easing rules around breaks in caring responsibilities.
Unpaid carers in Scotland already have access to several forms of financial help, which this new payment will build upon. The Carer Support Payment, which replaces the UK-wide Carer’s Allowance, is the main benefit for unpaid carers who provide at least 35 hours of care per week, with the current weekly rate set at £83.30. Carers in paid work are able to earn up to £196 a week without losing eligibility, giving greater flexibility for those who balance caring with employment. In addition, the Carer’s Allowance Supplement, paid twice a year, provides an important boost to incomes. For young carers, the Young Carer Grant currently offers a yearly payment of £383.75 to those aged 16 to 18 who provide at least 16 hours of care per week to someone receiving a qualifying benefit, with eligibility soon to extend to 19-year-olds.
However despite this progress, challenges remain. Many young carers struggle to balance education and caring duties, often missing school, finding it hard to keep up with studies or hold down part-time work, and sometimes missing out on social opportunities altogether. Research by Carers Trust Scotland has shown that 52% of young carers “always” or “usually” feel stressed. Evelyn Tweed has championed the needs of carers and young carers throughout her time in Parliament. The MSP has met with Stirling Carers Centre a number of times, and raised the issues in the chamber highlighting the need for more consistency across local authorities, better awareness so families know what help is available, and increased commitments to ensuring that carers can access breaks when they need them.
Commenting, Evelyn Tweed MSP said:
“Unpaid carers make an enormous contribution in communities across Stirling supporting family, friends and neighbours with dedication and love. The SNP is showing it recognises that contribution by putting money directly into the pockets of those caring for more than one person.
“This new payment, alongside the existing Carer Support Payment and Carer Supplement, will provide vital help at a time when so many carers are juggling even more financial pressures with the demands of looking after loved ones because of Labour’s austerity measures and the cost of living crisis.
“But for our young carers, the pressures are often greater still: missed school time, less social time, mental stress, few opportunities for rest, and worry about what their futures hold. I have raised in Parliament the need for better identification of young carers in schools, for more dedicated supports and breaks, and for ensuring that no young carer is excluded from support simply because they or their family were unaware of what’s available.
“These new proposals are important steps which show the Scottish Government is listening, and that they are committed to making our social security system fairer, more compassionate, and responsive to the real lives of carers in Stirling and throughout Scotland.”
Keri Moore, CEO of Stirling Carers, said:
“Stirling Carers Centre fully supports the proposals to enhance financial support for unpaid carers, particularly the introduction of an annual payment for those caring for more than one person. Many carers face complex and demanding responsibilities, often without access to adequate statutory support — especially when caring for multiple individuals. The intensity of these roles means that a significant number of carers are unable to take up paid employment, or are forced to reduce their working hours considerably, leading to financial hardship and social isolation. These proposals represent a meaningful step towards recognising the value of unpaid care and addressing the financial inequalities carers experience.”
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