Thousands of people to get free £290 payment this year - see who is eligible

Thousands of people claiming benefits will receive a bonus payment of £293.50 later this year. The extra money will be issued to those who are in receipt of Carer's Allowance in Scotland.

You will also be eligible if you get Carer Support Payment, which is replacing Carer's Allowance in Scotland. The bonus payment for receiving these benefits is called the Carer's Allowance Supplement and this is paid twice a year.

The last payment was made in June 2025, with the second payment due in December 2025. You normally need to be claiming Carer's Allowance or Carer's Support Payment to get this bonus.

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If you're due to get the payment, you'll get a letter from Social Security Scotland. It will then be paid to your regular bank account automatically - you won’t need to apply for it.

Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment are both worth £83.30 a week. You can find out who is eligible for Carer's Allowance below. It comes after news of a £200 payment for state pensioners born before 1959 to be made soon.

Carer's Allowance explained

Carer's Allowance is paid to those providing at least 35 hours of care a week. This can include helping someone with everyday tasks such as washing, managing bills, or taking them to doctor's appointments.

The person you're caring for must also receive one of the following benefits:

• Personal Independence Payment - daily living component

• Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate

• Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate

• Attendance Allowance

• Pension Age Disability Payment

• Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

• Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension

• Armed Forces Independence Payment

• Child Disability Payment - the middle or highest care rate

• Adult Disability Payment - daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate

You must also be aged 16 or over, not in full-time education, and not studying for 21 hours a week or more. There is an earning limits, which sets how much someone can earn in income and still be eligible for Carer's Allowance. This is set at £196 a week.

If your earnings go over the limit - even by just £1 - you lose your entitlement to Carer's Allowance. You don't have to be related to the person you're caring for, and if more than one person cares for the same person, only one of you can claim Carer's Allowance.

You should keep in mind that claiming Carer's Allowance can affect the benefits of the person you're looking after, as well as your own.