Support coping with rising living costs
Carers
In this section you will find:
Benefits for Carers
Carer Support Payment - a weekly payment for eligible carers. Replaces Carer’s Allowance in Scotland.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement - an automatic payment made twice a year to people who get Carer’s Allowance through the Department for Work and Pensions on certain dates each year.
Young Carer Grant - an annual payment for carers aged 16–18 who are not receiving Carer’s Allowance.
Support for Carers
Midlothian Young Carers Project - support for young people aged 5–25 who help care for a family member due to illness, disability, mental health, or substance use.
Support for Unpaid Adult Carers - if you are in an unpaid caring role, help is available to develop an Adult Carer Support Plan.
VOCAL
VOCAL provides information, training and individual support to unpaid carers living in or caring for someone in Midlothian.
You are a carer if you’re supporting a family member, child, partner, relative or friend of any age to manage a long-term condition, disability, physical or mental health condition or addiction.
VOCAL’s team of carer support practitioners provide one-to-one support to carers online, via telephone and in-person. VOCAL range of supports include:
- Support and information on carer rights and entitlements
- Self-directed support and sourcing services
- Creating an Adult Carer Support Plan and Emergency Plan
- Emotional support, including counselling
- Welfare rights and financial support including grants
- Short breaks
- Addictions (alcohol and drugs)
- Future planning including Power of Attorney
VOCAL's upcoming learning events and activities
October Sessions - Prepping your home for winter
Join us on this online session designed to help you prepare your home for the upcoming winter. You’ll leave with practical steps to improve your home’s heating performance and simple lifestyle changes that add up to big energy savings.
- Thu 16 October, 2025 @ 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
- Tue 21 October, 2025 @ 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm
- Fri 31 October, 2025 @ 10:30 am - 11:15 am
November sessions - Unlock your winter heating entitlements
Join Lyndsay, VOCAL Safe and Warm Practitioner to learn about the four main heating entitlements: Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, Winter Heating Payment, Warm Home Discount, and Child Winter Heating payment. We’ll also guide you on how to access emergency financial support for your fuel costs.
- Wednesday 6 November, 10:30am-11:15am
- Wed 12 November, 2025 @ 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm
- Tue 18 November, 2025 @ 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
- Thu 27 November, 2025 @ 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm
To find out more about VOCAL and the services available, please call 0808 196 6666 (option 2) or email midlothian@vocal.org.uk.
Additional support and resources
- Cost of living support for people with disabilities
- Support for adults with physical disabilities
- Support for adults with learning disabilities
- Support for adults with dementia
- Support for deaf or blind people
Return to Cost of Living Homepage & Map