Carer's Allowance
1. How it works
You could get £62.70 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.
You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
You won’t be paid extra if you care for more than one person.
Carer’s Allowance can affect the other benefits that you and the person you care for get. You have to pay tax on it if your income is over the Personal Allowance.
How you’re paid
You can choose to be paid:
weekly in advance
every 4 weeks
every 13 weeks
It will be paid into an account, for example your bank account.
What else you can get
For each week you get Carer’s Allowance you’ll automatically get National Insurance credits.
You may also be able to apply for:
support from your local council
a Council Tax Reduction
Income Support if you’re on a low income
income-based Employment and Support Allowance if you can’t work because of a medical condition or disability
Pension Credit if you’re over working age
2. Eligibility
The person you care for
The person you care for must already get one of these benefits:
Personal Independence Payment - daily living component
Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate
Attendance Allowance
Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
Armed Forces Independence Payment
You
You might be able to get Carer’s Allowance if all of the following apply:
you’re 16 or over
you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone
you’ve been in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this doesn’t apply if you’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection status)
you normally live in England, Scotland or Wales, or you live abroad as a member of the armed forces
you’re not in full-time education
you’re not studying for 21 hours a week or more
you earn no more than £116 a week after tax and some expenses - these will be assessed when you apply
you’re not subject to immigration control
You might still be eligible if you’re moving to or already living in another EEA country or Switzerland.
3. Effect on other benefits
Carer’s Allowance can affect the other benefits that both you and the person you care for get.
Effect on the benefits of the person you care for
When you claim Carer’s Allowance, the person you care for will stop getting:
a severe disability premium paid with their benefits
an extra amount for severe disability paid with Pension Credit, if they get one
reduced Council Tax - contact their local council to find out if this affects them
Effect on your benefits
When you claim Carer’s Allowance your other benefits may be reduced, but your total benefit payments will usually either go up or stay the same.
Carer’s Allowance doesn’t count towards the benefit cap.
If you get Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit, you must contact the Tax Credits office to tell them about Carer’s Allowance claim.
4. Make a claim
You will need
Before you apply make sure you have your:
National Insurance number (if you have a partner you’ll need theirs too)
bank or building society details
employment details and latest payslip if you’re working
P45 if you’ve recently finished work
course details if you’re studying
You also need details of the person you care for. You need their:
date of birth and address
National Insurance number if they’re 16 or over
Disability Living Allowance reference if they’re under 16
You can backdate your claim by up to 3 months.
Apply now
Other ways to apply
If you can’t apply online, you can apply by post. The address to send your application to is at the end of the form.
Appeal a decision
You can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal if you disagree with a decision. You must usually ask for ‘mandatory reconsideration’ before you appeal.
5. Report a change in circumstances
You must report any change in your circumstances if you’re claiming or have applied for Carer’s Allowance.
This includes if you get a job, temporarily stop providing care for someone or stop being a carer altogether.
If you temporarily stop providing care for someone
You can still get Carer’s Allowance if you temporarily stop providing care for someone. This means any period when you spend less than 35 hours a week caring for the other person. For example, you could get Carer’s Allowance for up to:
12 weeks if either of you go into respite care or hospital
4 weeks if either of you go on holiday