The Young Carer Grant is for young people aged 16 to 18 who provide up to 16 hours of care each week. The number of young carers receiving a unique grant only available in Scotland has soared, according to new figures from the Scottish Government. Over 3,700 teenagers have received Young Carer Grant payments worth £1.
4 million in the last financial year, almost 60 per cent more than the year before. It is now urging even more young carers to apply and is asking family and friends to encourage them to check if they are eligible for the annual payment worth £383.75.
Young Carer Grant is available to anyone aged 16 - 18 who spends at least 16 hours a week on average caring for someone who gets a qualifying disability benefit. Young carers can offer vital support to family members, friends or relatives who have disabilities or long-term health conditions. This could include making meals, helping with housework, reminding them to take medication or providing emotional support.
Young Carer Grant was introduced by the Scottish Government in October 2019 to recognise the role unpaid young carers play and to help them access opportunities that are the norm for many other young people. Since launch, more than 12,000 payments totalling £4 million have been made. During the annual Carers Week in June, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We introduced the payment in recognition of the vital role young carers play, and to provide money they can use to t.