INVERCLYDE’S MSP has welcomed the rollout of the Carer Support Payment, hailing it a ‘milestone moment’ for the area.

The payment – an amount of £81.90 per week paid by Social Security Scotland – has been introduced in phases since November 2023.

As of today, it is now available to people living in every local authority in Scotland.

The payment supports unpaid carers who provide 35 or more hours of care per week to a recipient of disability benefits.

Unpaid carers in Inverclyde who provide 35 hours of care or more per week to an individual in receipt of disability benefits can apply.

READ MORE: Inverclyde unpaid carers can apply for Carer Support Payment 

As part of the rollout, some applicants may be able to backdate their payments to the initial rollout date.

Stuart McMillan, MSP for Greenock and Inverclyde, said: “The nationwide rollout of the Carer Support Payment is a milestone moment for Inverclyde delivered by the SNP Government.

"This payment of £81.90 per week will be vital to support unpaid carers in Inverclyde who go above and beyond to help those they look after and our wider society.

"The SNP Government developed Social Security Scotland with dignity, fairness and respect at its core – the delivering of this 14th Scottish benefit is in keeping with those principles."