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Benefits
Young Carer Grant
What it is:
The Young Carer Grant is a one-off payment for young people aged 16 to 18 who are caring for someone with a disability. It’s designed to recognise the important role young carers play and give them some extra financial support.
Who can get it?
To qualify, you must:
- Be 16 to 18 years old.
- Live in Scotland.
- Be caring for someone for an average of 16 hours a week over the last 3 months. This can be split across multiple people (e.g., you might care for a sibling and a parent).
- The person you care for must be getting certain disability benefits, like:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
- Adult Disability Payment (ADP).
- Child Disability Payment (CDP).
You don’t need to be related to the person you’re caring for, and you don’t need to live with them. You can also apply whether you’re in education, work, or not.
What it covers:
The Young Carer Grant is meant to give you a little extra cash to use as you like. You could spend it on things like:
- A break or treat for yourself.
- New clothes, tech, or hobbies.
- Helping with education costs, such as books or equipment.
How much do you get?
It’s a one-off payment of £359.65 (2024 rate). You can apply once a year as long as you’re still eligible.
Important points:
- You can still claim the Young Carer Grant if you’re getting other benefits, like Universal Credit or Carer’s Allowance.
- You don’t need to prove how you spend the money – it’s entirely up to you!