Carers will get their long awaited £221 supplement from mid-September, the Scottish Government has announced.   

Backdated to April, the cash is to be paid twice yearly to the country's registered carers.

It represents a 13% increase on what the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) pays and is the first payment to be distributed by Scotland’s new social security agency.   

Carers will receive letters from Social Security Scotland from the week beginning 10 September so that they know in advance to expect a payment.

They are not required to do anything to receive this payment as, if eligible, it will happen automatically and be paid using the same method that people get their Carer’s Allowance from the DWP.

Social Security Scotland will go live as a public service as soon as it begins to process these payments.