The Carer Assistance (Carer Support Payment) Amendment Regulations 2024: scrutiny report

Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
Scottish Government

By email only

Draft Carer Assistance (Carer Support Payment) Amendment Regulations 2024

Dear Cabinet Secretary,

Thank you for your letter of 19 February 2024 regarding the draft Carer Assistance (Carer Support Payment) Amendment Regulations 2024. Detailed consideration, recommendations and observations related to the draft regulations are included in Annex 1 of this letter.

The draft regulations provide for a phased roll out of Carer Support Payment (CSP) including a new transitional backdating provision for newly qualifying student carers and others qualifying due to different ‘past presence’ rules to Carer’s Allowance, bring forward the commencement date of the existing provision for entitlement of some 16 to 19-year-old students and make some clarifying amendments to the principal regulations.

In summary, SCoSS welcomes the aims of the draft regulations while noting that further consideration could be given to detailed communications with people who may be eligible for backdated support and solutions-focused monitoring of any issues caused by backdating during the transition period. SCoSS also notes the significant number of full-time student carers expected to become eligible for Carer Support Payment in the final phase of the roll out and the resource implications this may create.

We will also be sharing a copy of our response with the Convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee and it will be published on our website.

Yours sincerely

Judith Paterson, Interim Co-Chair, Scottish Commission on Social Security
Dr Mark Simpson, Interim Co-Chair, Scottish Commission on Social Security