Young Carer Grant
Being a young carer can place both a physical and emotional burden on young people which is why Social Security Scotland has created the ‘Young Carer Grant’.
The Young Carer Grant is designed to offer a degree of financial support to young carers who care for a loved one acknowledging that it can be difficult for young people to balance maintaining a part-time job while carrying out caring duties.
What is the Young Carer Grant?
The Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £359.65 that is paid to young carers living in Scotland.
As the payment is a grant, it does not need to be paid back and young carers are welcome to spend the sum of money how they please.
For example, you may wish to put the money towards a gym membership, driving lessons or a day out to recharge from your caring duties.
Who is Eligible for the Grant?
The Young Carer Grant is eligible for young people who are aged either 16,17 or 18 years old.
However, for young carers who were not able to apply for the grant before their 19th birthday, you will not be disadvantaged and can still apply.
To qualify for the grant, young carers must meet the following criteria:
- You live in Scotland
- Care for someone for an average of 16 hours a week for at minimum the last three months.
- If you care for multiple people during the week, the number of hours can be combined provided they total 16 hours a week.
- The person you care for must be receiving certain benefits
- You are not in receipt of Carer’s Allowance
What Constitutes a Young Carer?
You may be wondering if you qualify as a young carer.
You will be considered a young carer if you look after a family member or friend by:
- Supporting them during a period of illness
- Providing them with emotional support
- Helping them with their mental health
Some of the day-to-day activities that you may undertake include:
- Helping someone get out of bed and dressed in the morning
- Assisting them with day-to-day tasks such as food shopping or cleaning
- Administering their medication
- Prepare their meals
To qualify for the Young Carer Grant, you will typically carry out some of the above tasks most days on a non-voluntary basis.
How Can I Apply for the Young Carer Grant?
When it comes to applying for the young carer grant you should make sure that you have the following information readily available:
- National Insurance Number
- The National Insurance Number of the person you are caring for
- Your bank details
As the young carer grant will be paid into your bank account, you should consider setting up a bank account if you do not already have one.
Documentation
You may be required to send copies of documentation such as letters to confirm your address. Social Security Scotland will let you know what information they require once you have submitted your application.
Examples of Documentation you may be required to send include:
- A GP Registration card
- Bank Statement from the last six months
- Financial support award letter from SAAS
You can apply for Young Carers Grant in the following ways:
When Can I Expect to Get an Update on my application?
Once you have applied for the Young Carer Grant Social Security Scotland will send you a letter within two weeks of receiving your application to let you know if your application has been successful.
If you will be awarded Young Carer Grant, then you can expect to receive it within 4-5 days of receiving your Young Carer Grant letter.
Social Security Scotland will also get in touch with the person that you care for. This will usually be in the form of sending them a letter to confirm that you care for them.
For further information on the Young Carer Grant visit mygov.scot website.
