Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £359.65 for young carers in Scotland.

To be able to get Young Carer Grant, you must:

• be 16, 17 or 18 years old
• have been caring for 1, 2 or 3 people for an average of 16 hours a week for at least the last 3 months

If you care for more than one person, you can combine the hours of the people you care for to average 16 hours a week.

Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment for carers aged 16 to 18 who care for someone receiving a qualifying disability benefit. The payment can be applied for once a year. Young carers can spend this money as they choose.

You can get Young Carer Grant once a year, up until you turn 19. You'll need to complete a new form or get in touch each year you want to apply.

How you spend the Young Carer Grant is up to you. You could use it for things like new clothes, driving lessons or a holiday. You do not need to show what you spend the money on.

If you care for someone for 35 hours or more a week you may be able to get Carer's Allowance. You should apply for this once you've been paid Young Carer Grant. You will not be able to get Young Carer Grant if you're already getting Carer's Allowance.

Young carers can get more information and apply by calling 0800 182 2222 or visiting mygov.scot/young-carer-grant/

Key figures since the grant was introduced are outlined below:

• From 21 October 2019 to 31 July 2022, 10,450 Young Carer Grant applications were received

• Overall, 9,965 applications had been processed by 31 July 2022. Of these, 69% were authorised, 29% were denied, and 2% were withdrawn

• The total value of Young Carer Grant payments issued to clients by 31 July 2022 was £2.1 million

For more information, click HERE.

If you want to help get the word out about this new benefit – please find resources on the Social Security Scotland website.