A leading UK carers charity is calling for urgent action to financially support Scotland’s older unpaid carers.

In an open letter, Carers Trust Scotland is asking for the Scottish government to introduce a specific ‘recognition payment’ for older adult unpaid carers.

The current system sees unpaid carers aged 65 and over who claim their pension lose entitlement to the carers benefit despite meeting all other criteria.

Writing to Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Social Security, the charity says thousands of older carers are being ‘financially penalised’, forced to use their pension to fund their caring role.

This in turn means many are no longer recognised as unpaid carers and are no longer able to access other support, according to Carers Trust Scotland.

Research by the charity last year found 82% of participants aged 65 and above felt as though their caring role had financially impacted them.

One unpaid carer told Carers Trust Scotland that “the loss of Carer’s Allowance due to reaching State Pension age is a joke…it is not a benefit but an earned right.”

As well as a recognition payment, Carers Trust is now asking ministers to work with the UK government to champion for State Pension to be disregarded in eligibility for Carer Support Payment.

It also makes the case for awareness-raising about potential changes to financial support, to ensure people are aware of other support they may be entitled to – like Pension Credit.

The Scottish government intends to replace Carer’s Allowance later this year with a new benefit called Carer Support Payment.

Most of the qualifying rules for the new benefit will be unchanged, though those in full-time education will be eligible for the new payment from launch.

Individuals and organisations across Scotland are invited by Carers Trust Scotland to add their signature to the letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, and show their support for older adult unpaid carers.