This page explains the rules that might affect young carers and links to the individual benefit help pages for further information.
As a young carer aged 16 or 17 years old the main thing affecting whether you can actually get benefits in your own name is whether you are still in education. If you are not sure if your particular studies affect you being able to claim benefits you should seek benefits advice.
If being a student or being under 16 means you can’t claim benefits in your own name, you could still be included in a parent or guardian’s benefit claim, if they receive benefits.
Carer’s Allowance is the main benefit for carers who spend 35 hours a week looking after a disabled person. The disabled person must be receiving one of the following disability benefits:
- Disability Living Allowance higher or middle rate care component.
- Personal Independence Payment standard or enhanced daily living component.
- Attendance Allowance.
- Armed Forces Independence Payment.
- Constant Attendance Allowance paid with an industrial injuries benefit or war disablement pension.
- Child Disability Payment (Scotland) higher or middle rate care component
- Adult Disability Payment (Scotland) standard or enhanced daily living component
The lower age limit for claiming this benefit is 16 years old. As a young carer aged 16 or 17 you can claim Carer’s Allowance as long as you are not in full-time education.
If you are a student and the course you are doing is described as full-time by the school or college you go to, then you are usually considered to be in full-time education. If your course involves attending for at least 21 hours a week, you will be treated as being in full-time education.
Take a look at our 'Carer's Allowance' guide to find out more.
You usually need to be aged 18 or over to claim Universal Credit, which helps people with their housing costs and basic needs if they are under pension age and on a low income.
There are some circumstances where 16 and 17 year olds can claim Universal Credit. One of these is if you are a young carer who has ‘regular and substantial caring responsibilities’ for a severely disabled person. This has the same meaning as used for Carer’s Allowance, so you must be spending at least 35 hours a week caring for a person receiving one of these disability benefits:
- Disability Living Allowance higher or middle rate care component.
- Personal Independence Payment standard or enhanced daily living component.
- Attendance Allowance.
- Armed Forces Independence Payment.
- Constant Attendance Allowance paid with an industrial injuries benefit or war disablement pension.
You don’t need to be claiming Carer’s Allowance to be eligible for Universal Credit based on your caring responsibilities, but you must not be in full-time education or a care leaver.
If you do make a claim for Universal Credit in your own name, you can’t be included as a child or ‘qualifying young person’ on your parent/guardian’s benefit claims. It is important to talk about this with your parent/guardian and seek benefits advice before making a claim.
Take a look at our 'Universal Credit' guide to find out more.
To be eligible for a Young Carer Grant you must be aged 16, 17 or 18 and live in Scotland.
It is a payment made once a year to young carers who spend an average of at least 16 hours a week caring for up to three people. If you do look after more than one person the hours you spend caring can be added together.
The person or people you care for must get one of the following disability benefits:
- Disability Living Allowance higher or middle rate care component.
- Personal Independence Payment standard or enhanced daily living component.
- Attendance Allowance.
- Armed Forces Independence Payment.
- Constant Attendance Allowance paid with an industrial injuries benefit or war disablement pension.
- Child Disability Payment (Scotland) higher or middle rate care component
- Adult Disability Payment (Scotland) standard or enhanced daily living component
You must also have been providing care for at least three months when you claim.
You can’t get a Young Carer Grant if you already get, or have applied for, Carer’s Allowance. If you think you might be eligible for both you should consider claiming the Young Carer Grant first. Be sure to check that delaying your Carer’s Allowance claim doesn’t mean you miss out on a Carer’s Allowance Supplement though, a twice yearly payment made to people getting Carer’s Allowance on specific dates in the year. If you have any doubts about what to claim first you should seek benefits advice.
You can find out more about the Young Carer Grant and apply online from the Mygov Scotland’s Young Carer Grant webpage.
Online Help and Advice
Visit our online support section where we have provided advice and guidance on a range of relevant topics to help you in your caring role.