Young Carers Rights in Scotland
CymraegEnglish
Every young carer in Scotland has the right to a young carer statement under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016. This is a law passed by the Scottish Parliament to improve support for unpaid carers of all ages in Scotland, including young carers.
In Scotland, a young carer is a carer who is either under 18 years old or is over 18 but still at school. Young carers have legal rights as carers under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016. Some may also have rights as a child in need of care and support under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995.
In 2024, young carers were given more rights when the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child were incorporated into Scottish law. The principles adopted in the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 include:
- non-discrimination.
- right to life, survival and development.
- doing what is in the best interest of the child.
- meaningfully engaging and respecting children's views.
The Young Carer Grant
The Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £383.75 for young carers in Scotland who are 16, 17 or 18 years old.
To receive this, you must have been caring for either one, two or three people for an average of 16 hours a week for at least the last three 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.
You can get the Young Carer Grant once a year, up until you turn 19. You'll need to fill in a new form or call Social Security Scotland (0800 182 2222) for each application.
What is a young carer statement
Organising and preparing for your young carer statement
What to expect during and after your statement