What is Carer's Allowance? | Mencap

What is Carer's Allowance?

The front cover of a leaflet about Carer's Allowance

Carer’s Allowance is the name of a benefit that some people who care for someone can get.

A woman pushing someone in a wheelchair has a wage packet next to her with a red cross through it

Carer’s Allowance is for people who do not get paid to care for the person.

A woman getting dressed, a man helping another man to drink from a cup and a man holding up a toothbrush and toothpaste

If you care for someone, you might help them to:

wash, dress or eat

A woman holds a shopping basket whist another woman who has a bandaged arm, puts a food can into it.

shop, cook or clean their house or flat

A woman helping a man next to a calculator and a pile of money. Two women next to a red bus. A woman helping someone in a wheelchair make a phone call

manage money, make phone calls or go out.

A map of England, Scotland and Wales surrounded by different pictures of different people

Who can get Carer’s Allowance?

You can get Carer’s Allowance if you:

live in England, Scotland or Wales

A group of people who are aged 16 and over

are 16 or over

A man is giving a man in a wheelchair a cup of tea

care for someone for 35 hours or more per week.

A wage packet with money in it next to a downward arrow pointing to £139

and you:

do not earn more than £139 per week

A man in a high visibility vest is talking to pupils in a classroom in front of a blackboard

are not in full time education

A girl sitting at a desk with lots of open and closed books on it

are not studying for more than 21 hours per week.

A man using a walking frame is standing outside his house

You do not have to live with the person you care for.

A State Pension and Pension Credit leaflet with a green tick underneath it is next to an equals sign to a red cross and a question mark under a leaflet about Carers Allowance

If you get State Pension or Pension Credit, you might not get Carer’s Allowance.

Two carer workers are helping a woman in a wheelchair above one helper is a red cross over the front cover of a carers allowance leaflet. Over the other helper is a green tick over the front cover of a carers allowance leaflet

If someone else is caring for the person you care for, only 1 of you can get Carer’s Allowance for helping them.

The front cover of the Personal Independence Payment leaflet about a benefit from the DWP

The person that you care for must get one of these benefits:

Personal Independence Payment - daily living component

The front cover of a Disability Living Allowance leaflet

Disability Living Allowance - middle or highest care rate

The front cover of a benefits leaflet which says Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance

Two benefit leaflets with a plus sign between them. One is Constant Attendance Allowance and the other is Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Two benefit leaflets with a plus sign between them. One is Constant Attendance Allowance and the other is War Disablement Pension

Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension

The front cover of an Armed Forces Independence Payment leaflet

Armed Forces Independence Payment.

A pile of five pound notes

How much is Carer’s Allowance?

Carer’s Allowance money is £76.75 per week.

A man is worried thinking his benefits may stop

If you get Carer’s Allowance, it might change some of your other benefits,

A woman is kneeling down listening to a man in a wheelchair who is talking

or some of the benefits of the person you care for.

A man on a phone and another man using a laptop

If you need support or more information about Carer's Allowance contact the Learning Disability Helpline.