Three new initiatives to help people find and stay in work, including disabled people and those with long term health conditions, have been announced.
The pilot projects will share £228,000 of Scottish Government funding to enable people with diverse needs to enter, stay in or progress in the workplace. They will be used to expand flexible working in sectors such as manufacturing and help diversify the public sector workforce.
Business and Employment Minister Richard Lochhead welcomed the launch at Scottish Leather Group in Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, where staff are already benefiting from initiatives such as compressed hours and reduced hours for people approaching retirement.
He said: “This new funding will help provide flexible and supportive working environments and contribute to a more dynamic, diverse, and resilient jobs market in Scotland.
“This has significant benefits for workers and means employers like Scottish Leather Group can draw from a wider talent pool.
“The Scottish Government is committed to helping people remain in work and strengthening pathways into employment for those furthest from the jobs market. This new funding will promote flexible working, support disabled employees and people at risk of economic inactivity.”
Nikki Slowey, co-founder and director of Flexibility Works, said: “People’s lives are constantly changing, whether that’s with children, caring for older relatives or for health needs, and we know many people drop out of work altogether if the juggle between work and home life becomes too stressful.
“Employers that are attuned to this and are able to be flexible can keep hold of talented and experienced staff. Often people only want small changes, such as a little home working or to start and finish at slightly different times.
“This enables people to keep working, which is good for their finances and wellbeing as well as delivering benefits for their employer and our wider economy.”
The funding is part of wider Scottish Government efforts to enable people with diverse needs to enter, stay in or progress in the workplace, which in turn will help boost the economy and tackle child poverty.
It will allow three separate organisations to run distinct pilot projects – all with the aim of providing workplace support:
The UK’s largest community of unpaid carers is urging hundreds of thousands of Scots providing unpaid care for someone to access vital respite funding. This follows new research revealing that 1 in 3 unpaid carers are rarely able to take a break.
Released as part of a carer-led “protest from home” in July, the Carers Trust research shows that 44% of unpaid carers are not currently accessing government-issued respite care. This echoes previous research conducted by Mobilise in July 2024, which revealed that almost half (47%) of unpaid carers had never taken a break, with many respondents citing a lack of available support as the reason.
It also comes as the Scottish Government introduces a legal right to breaks for unpaid carers under the new Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025.
Now, experts at carer-led community Mobilise are also calling for greater awareness of funding for replacement care services and holiday accommodation, as well as new developments around Scottish carers’ rights to breaks. This support can give unpaid carers desperately needed breaks.
What rights do unpaid carers have to take breaks?
Local Authorities now have a duty, under the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, to ensure that all unpaid carers are able to take sufficient breaks. This means that all unpaid carers living in Scotland are now legally entitled to take a break.
Anyone in a caring role also has the right to be assessed for an ‘Adult Carer Support Plan’ (or Young Carer Statement, if you’re caring for a child). This can lead to free respite care services, or funding for breaks and activities that offer time away from caring responsibilities – ranging from regular time off to a short holiday.
What respite care funding is available?
Adult Carer Support Plans aren’t the only way to access replacement care services. A number of different funding options are available to give Scottish carers respite breaks (sometimes known as ‘carers breaks’ or ‘short breaks’), depending on the level of care you provide and the needs of the person you are caring for.
Respite care costs can also be covered by:
Where can carers get free respite accommodation?
Even with respite care services in place, holiday accommodation costs can be prohibitive for carers who often face additional expenses, and may have to drop out of paid roles or reduce their hours. To help break down this barrier to breaks, a number of organisations offer free accommodation for carers. Some also offer support for your cared-for person to join you.
Free respite accommodation options include:
To get more help finding and applying for respite care funding and support, you can visit Mobilise’s detailed Guide to Respite. Care support experts are also on hand to help via the Mobilise website.
Edinburgh-based charity, Care for Carers has received £5,000 in funding thanks to votes from Scotmid members.
Scotmid lets members vote for local causes with their membership cards. Care for Carers received the most support in the East.
The Community Listening Project, Pennypit Trust, Canongate Youth, Door in the Wall, and Croft Street Hub each received £1000.
Founded in 1989, Care for Carers is a voluntary organisation that supports unpaid carers of all ages and circumstances.
The charity provides emotional and practical help, from one-to-one guidance to information and signposting, as well as opportunities for carers to take time for themselves. These services enable carers to step away from their caring role, connect with others in similar situations, and recharge.
Ruth MacLennan, CEO, Care for Carers, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen by Scotmid Members for the Member Choice Award.
“This funding means we can do even more for the carers we support, including being able to offer vital respite opportunities – it will make such a difference to us to have this award.”
The Member Choice Awards complement Scotmid’s ongoing community grants and donations, which together benefit more than 1,000 organisations annually. These include youth clubs, mental health charities, food banks, and environmental programmes.
The next Member Choice Awards cycle, ending in November 2025, has shortlisted the following good causes from the east region: The Larder, Spark, Seagull Trust, Gorebridge Community Care, Forever Young Club, and Kirkliston Community Conservation Volunteers/Waste Not Want Not Community Fridge.
The winner will be announced later this year.
Learn more or apply for future rounds at: https://scotmid.coop/community-funding
SUPPORT FROM SOCIAL SECURITY SCOTLAND
Over 89,000 unpaid carers received an extra payment of £293.50 in June 2025.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement is only available in Scotland and gets paid automatically to people who get Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance.
Find out more at https://bit.ly/CarersAllowanceSupplement
This Carers Week (9 – 15 June), unpaid carers across Scotland are being encouraged to find out if they are eligible for social security support – through Carer Support Payment, Carer’s Allowance Supplement and Young Carer Grant
Carer’s Allowance Supplement – a payment only available north of the border – was the first benefit delivered by Social Security Scotland in 2018 to provide extra financial support for carers, recognising their important contribution.
Since the payment’s introduction, unpaid carers in Scotland will be up to £4,475 better off by the end of 2025.
On a visit to Midlothian Carers Centre to meet with parent carers of adults with additional support needs, Minister for Equalities, Kaukab Stewart, said: “Social security in Scotland isn’t about renaming benefits previously delivered by the UK Government.
“We are about delivering social security with dignity, fairness and respect, continually listening to what carers and support organisations have to say to help shape the changes we’re making.
“We introduced Carer’s Allowance Supplement and Young Carer Grant, which are only available in Scotland, and widened eligibility for Carer Support Payment to enable more carers in education to access it.
“We’re also committed to introducing new extra support for carers who care for more than one person. Changes to help improve the lives of carers in Scotland.
“Social security is something anyone may need at any point in their life. It’s a public service and I encourage all unpaid carers to find out if they are entitled to financial support and apply.”
Carla Bennett, Carer Services Manager at VOCAL Midlothian added: “Unpaid carers often face financial hardship, with many forced to give up paid work or reduce their hours to support those they care for.
“Caring for someone comes with additional costs too, such as transport, heating, equipment and food. These expenses, combined with reduced income, mean carers are more likely to experience poverty.
“Demand for VOCAL’s income maximisation service has doubled in the past year, showing that carers are feeling the strain. Accessing financial and social security support can ease this burden and make a significant difference to the lives of carers and those they care for.
“We would encourage carers to find out what they might be eligible for.”
Personal playlists however can give dementia carers, who are often relatives or friends respite, by helping to reduce symptoms including distress, anxiety, loss of communication and low mood.
Want to know how to make a playlist? Join our free webinar for family and friends this Thursday to learn how:
https://www.playlistforlife.org.uk/…/how-to-make-a…/…
Around 90,000 carers are set to receive Carer’s Allowance Supplement this June – an additional payment of £293.50.
The payment is extra money for people who receive Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance on a particular date.
Only available in Scotland, the summer payment will be made between 18 and 19 June 2025. Carers are eligible if they received Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance on 14 April 2025.
Carers eligible for the payment will receive a letter from Social Security Scotland before the payment is made. Carers do not need to apply as it is paid automatically to everyone who is eligible.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “This benefit was the first that we introduced when we formed Social Security Scotland back in 2018. It’s an additional payment to recognise the important contribution of unpaid carers in Scotland. A payment not made anywhere else in the UK.
“It’s another example of how we’ve built a radically different social security system in Scotland, with dignity, fairness and respect at its heart.”
Claire Cairns, Director at The Coalition of Carers in Scotland added: “At a time when many carers are struggling to pay the bills, while providing essential support to loved ones, this payment is a vital acknowledgment of their role and a much-needed financial boost that helps ease some of the pressure they face every day.”
If a carer is eligible for Carer’s Allowance Supplement but has not received a letter or payment by 30 June 2025, they should contact Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.
The next Carer’s Allowance Supplement will be paid in December 2025.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement is paid twice a year. It’s an extra payment for eligible unpaid carers who are getting Carer Support Payment or Carer’s Allowance on the qualifying date. It is paid automatically without the need to apply.
Carers who have a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland but live outside the UK in the European Economic Area, Switzerland or Gibraltar may be eligible.
Find out more Applying outside of Scotland – mygov.scot
Scots with disabilities and health conditions are being urged to check if they’re eligible for financial support worth up to £5,740 a year. The advice comes from the UK’s largest community of unpaid carers ahead of the benefit being made available across Scotland next week.
Pension Age Disability Payment – a benefit aimed at helping disabled people above retirement age cover care costs – is replacing Attendance Allowance in Scotland, with applications opening nationwide from 22nd April. Pension Age Disability Payment rates also increased this month. Yet Scots are at risk of missing out.
Whilst those already claiming Attendance Allowance will automatically be transferred to the new support, an estimated 1 million people are missing out on the outgoing benefit. This puts Scots amongst this group at risk of losing out on Pension Age Disability Payment, too.
The care experts at Mobilise aim to raise awareness of the disability benefit and the difference it could make for Scots missing out, if they check they are eligible and apply.
What is the Pension Age Disability Payment?
Almost half (45%) of people above retirement age in the UK have some form of disability. Pension Age Disability Payment aims to help these individuals cover the cost of care.
The monthly payment is split into two rates, depending on the level of care which is required. Both rates increased on 7th April:
Who is eligible for Pension Age Disability Payment?
To be eligible for Pension Age Disability Payments, you must meet certain criteria, including:
If you live in a care home and your care is funded by the local authority, you are unlikely to be eligible. However, if your care is privately funded, you may still apply.
How to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment
From 22nd April, anyone who believes they are eligible for Pension Age Disability Payment can apply – either online using myaccount or via the post. Postal applications can be started by calling Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222. There is a separate fast-track application process for those who are terminally ill.
If you already receive Attendance Allowance you do not need to apply as you will automatically be moved to Pension Age Disability Payments.
There are two parts to the application form. You will need certain information to hand to complete each part and must submit these within 2 weeks and 8 weeks respectively, or contact Social Security Scotland if you need more time. Details about the information required is available here. A loved one or carer can also help you complete the application form.
What support is available for carers?
It’s not just people that need care who are eligible for support. If you look after a loved one, you could also be entitled to help from the Government.
Carer Support Payment is the main benefit available to carers living in Scotland, and comes in the form of monthly payments. As with Pension Age Disability Payments, the rate increased this month. From April, Carer Support Payments are rising from £81.90 to £83.30 a week – £4331.60 a year, in total.
To be eligible for Carer Support Payment, you must meet a number of requirements. You can check if you’re eligible using Mobilise’s free claim checker tool. If you’re entitled to Carer Support Payment, you can apply online, by phone, by post, or in-person. See the Scottish Government’s website for full details.
For more guidance on the financial support available to people with care needs and unpaid carers, care experts are on hand to help via the Mobilise website.
Still undecided? Here’s why you should join the Student Carer Ambassador programme:
Help improve support for student carers
Work with decision-makers in education
Meet and connect with other student carers
Flexible commitment – take part when you can
Applications are still open, but don’t wait too long!
Find out more and apply now: https://tinyurl.com/4775pe86
