What is Carer’s Allowance and how can I claim it?
If you’re in the UK you could get £76.75 a week in Carer’s Allowance (March 2024) if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week. That makes it a pretty full-time job, although some people do fit part-time working into their day as well.
There are rules. You can’t share a Carer’s Allowance with someone else. Only one person can claim the allowance for each person being cared for. And you won’t receive multiple allowances if you are caring for more than one person.
If you claim the allowance and it takes you over your Personal Allowance, then you’ll have to pay tax on it.
You also need to be very careful about working while caring. Recent news stories have suggested that the Department of Work and Pensions is keen to reclaim any overpaid benefits, even if they have been claimed in genuine error.
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
- Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or out of work
- Pension Credit if you’re over working age
- grants and bursaries to help pay for courses and training
- Income Support (if you get the severe disability premium and you’re on a low income)
- income-based Employment and Support Allowance (if you get the severe disability premium and you cannot work)
There are also knock-on effects of receiving these benefits. The Royal Horticultural Society, for example, offers tickets for just £1 to people receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit or Housing Benefit. It’s worth checking memberships and entry fees wherever you go in case there are savings to be enjoyed.
Are you eligible for Carer’s Allowance?
Carer’s Allowance is applicable to people who live in England, Scotland or Wales. If you live in Scotland and get Carer’s Allowance, you may also get Carer’s Allowance Supplement.
For you to be eligible for Carer’s Allowance, the person you’re caring for must be receiving 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
- Child Disability Payment – the middle or highest care rate
If you’re not eligible, you may be able to claim Carer’s Credit.
Claiming the allowance may have an effect on any other benefits you receive, so it’s important to check where you stand.
More information
- You can find fuller details about eligibility and claiming Carer’s Allowance, and make a claim, on the UK government website. Note that there are several pages here of useful information.
- As of August 2024 there are limited opportunities to apply for Carer’s Allowance online rather than by post
- Claiming carer’s allowance is one way in to applying for council tax discount for live-in carers.
- How claiming Carer’s Allowance might affect the current benefits of the carer and cared for.
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