Carer's Allowance
Carer's Allowance is the main welfare benefit to help carers. You may still be able to claim it, even if you don't think of yourself as a carer.
What is Carer's Allowance?
If you care for someone you could be entitled to some extra money each week if you meet the eligibility criteria outlined below.
Many people don't think of themselves as a carer, but if you support someone who would find it difficult to manage without your support then you're a carer.
You don't have to be related to the person you care for to claim, but you won't be paid extra if you care for more than one person.
How much could I get?
Carer's Allowance is worth £69.70 per week for April 2022 to 2023 and is usually paid every four weeks.
What you might get if you get your State Pension
If your State Pension is more than the Carer's Allowance amount of £69.70 you might not be paid any Carer's Allowance. However, a successful Carer's Allowance claim will still give you an 'underlying entitlement' to it. This entitlement could mean you get extra money with any means-tested benefits you claim, such as Pension Credit or Housing Benefit.
If you're under State Pension age, you'll also get National Insurance credits each week towards your pension.
What you might get if you claim Universal Credit
If you claim Universal Credit, you may be able to get an extra amount because of your caring role, which is known as a 'carer element'.
Am I eligible for Carer's Allowance?
You could be eligible if you:
- spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a disabled person (you don't have to live with them or be related to them)
- care for someone who receives the higher-rate or middle-rate care component of Disability Living Allowance, either rate of Personal Independence Payment daily living component, or any rate of Attendance Allowance
- do not earn more than £132 a week (after deductions)
- are not in full-time education
You don't have to be related to or live with the person you care for to claim Carer's Allowance. It's extra money each week for you to use as you want or need to.
If you think you won't be eligible to claim Carer’s Allowance because you have some savings, don't worry. Your savings and your National Insurance record won’t make a difference to your claim.
What extra money are you entitled to?
Do you know what benefits you are entitled to? Our Benefits Calculator can help you, quickly and easily, to find out what you could be claiming.
How do I claim Carer's Allowance?
There are a couple of ways to make a Carer's Allowance claim. You can:
- claim online via the GOV UK website
- download a claim form from the GOV UK website and send it in the post.
After you submit your claim, you'll receive a decision in writing that will tell you if you have been awarded Carer's Allowance and from what date.
If your claim is turned down, read our information on challenging a benefits decision.
Making a claim for Carer's Allowance can affect the benefits of the person you care for. Before making a claim, it's a good idea to check how they might be affected.
More Carer's Allowance questions
What if my circumstances change?
If your circumstances change, for example you take a break from caring, stop being a carer altogether or the person you care for goes into hospital, make sure you let the Carer’s Allowance Unit know.
If you don't inform them of a change in circumstances and you're overpaid as a result, you may have to pay the money back. DWP might also impose a civil penalty if you fail to notify them of a change of circumstances.
What happens if the person I care for goes into hospital or moves into a care home?
If the person you care for goes into hospital and their stay is arranged by the NHS, payment of their qualifying benefit will stop after four weeks (12 weeks in the case of a disabled child under 16). As your Carer's Allowance entitlement depends on the person receiving a qualifying benefit, this will also stop at the same time.
Their benefits and your Carer's Allowance entitlement will also stop after 28 days if the person enters a care home and their fees are met in full by NHS continuing healthcare funding or in full or part by the local authority, or in Scotland if they receive free personal and nursing care payments.
If the person you care for is terminally ill and DWP know this, their qualifying benefit may continue if they go into a non-NHS hospice, therefore your entitlement will remain payable as long as you still provide care for 35 hours a week.
If the person you care for has regular periods of respite care, it may be possible to plan these periods so their qualifying benefit and your entitlement will not be affected. Seek advice if this applies.
Should I also get National Insurance credits?
If you're entitled to Carer's Allowance and have not yet reached State Pension age, National Insurance contributions are credited automatically to increase your future entitlement to the State Pension, unless you have retained the right to pay married woman’s reduced-rate contributions.
If you are under State Pension age and you become sick, you may qualify for ‘new style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)’ based on National Insurance credits from when you received Carer's Allowance.
An exception applies to carers, provided you have claimed Carer's Allowance for just one week in the last complete tax year before the year in which you claim ESA. This type of ESA is not means tested.
What's your email address?
Our direct email address is contact@ageuk.org.uk.
Want more information?
Caring for someone can be rewarding, but it can also feel challenging at times. We have more practical and emotional support for you.
Explore our information specifically written for carers like you
Read the tips on our Carer's checklist
Download our Advice for carers information guide
Download our Caring for someone with dementia information guide
We're here to help
We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 125 local Age UKs.