One in three adults caring for a relative don’t fully understand Carer’s Allowance
Carer’s Allowance in the UK is set to become more generous from April 2025, but new research suggests that many unpaid carers won’t benefit because they don’t understand what is on offer.
A study among 1,000 carers aged 45-75 for retirement specialist Just Group to support the 12th edition of its Care Report, found that almost one in three were unaware of, or unsure about the state benefit.
This was split between 8% who said they had never heard of it and a further 21% saying that they had heard of it but were unsure what it was.
What is the value of Carer’s Allowance?
Carer’s Allowance is currently (November 2024) worth £81.90 per week and can be claimed by people who provide care for at least 35 hours a week and earn less than £151 a week. UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves has recently announced the earnings limit will rise in April 2025 to the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage or £196 a week.
Who might be able to claim Carer’s Allowance?
Carer’s Allowance is an important benefit that financially supports many individuals who are forced to limit their working hours due to their caring responsibilities. It can be especially helpful for ‘sandwich’ carers too, who often face major challenges juggling the needs of their children and their adult relatives.
The Office of National Statistics found that between 2021 and 2023 there were approximately 1.4 million of these ‘sandwich’ carers, who provide care for sick, disabled, or older adult relatives as well as for dependent children. Around half of sandwich carers reported that they were unable to work at all, or as much as they would, like because of their caring responsibilities for someone they live with. This increased to around three-quarters for those caring 20 hours or more per week.
Many of these unpaid carers could claim the allowance, but there have been problems recently, which might be off-putting. News reports have found an unsettling number of claimants being told they need to repay the benefit as their paid income exceeds the earnings restriction.
Just Group said: ‘We urge those who feel they may be entitled to some state-funded financial support to take full advantage of the many free-to-use resources that can help individuals identify their eligibility for benefits and how to claim them.’
Where can you find more information?
- The government provides free information via https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en
- MoneySavingExpert has a benefits calculator: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/benefits-check/
- Charities such as Citizens Advice and Age UK can be good sources of assistance
- Professional advisers will charge but can provide regulated advice alongside information about benefit eligibility
Photo by Jack Finnigan on Unsplash
