What is Carers Allowance?
Carer’s Allowance is the name of a benefit that some people who care for someone can get.
Carer’s Allowance is for people who do not get paid to care for the person.
If you care for someone, you might help them to:
- wash, dress or eat
- shop, cook or clean their house or flat
- manage money, make phone calls or go out.
Can I get Carers Allowance?
To get Carer's Allowance you must:
- live in England, Scotland or Wales.
- have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years.
- be 16 or over
- care for someone for 35 hours or more per week.
And you must not:
- earn more than a specific amount set by the
DWP
DWP stands for
the government
The Government are the people who run the country. They decide how much
tax
Tax is the money that pays for things like schools, hospitals and the police. There are different types of taxes like
income tax
Income tax is the money that is taken out of the money you earn every month. It helps to pay for things we all need like hospitals and schools.
,
VAT
VAT is also called Value Added Tax. VAT is the extra money you pay when you buy things. The money goes to the government to pay for things like schools and hospitals.
and
council tax
Council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
Tax is the money that people pay to the
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. It helps to pay for things like social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
.
people should pay for things and how things like the National Health
Service
A service gives people what they need, like healthcare services that help people when they are ill, and support services that give people support.
should work.
Department of Work and Pensions.
- be in full time
education
Education is when you learn things. When you fill in a form to get a job, education means you write where you went to school, college or university.
- be studying for more than 21 hours per week.
Things to consider if you're thinking about applying for Carer's Allowance:
- Carer’s Allowance is a taxable benefit and forms part of your taxable income.
- If you claim Carer’s Allowance, it may affect some of your other benefits or some of the benefits of the person you care for.
- You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
- If you get State Pension or Pension Credit, you might not get Carer’s Allowance.
To get Carer's Allowance the person you care for must get either:
-
Personal Independence Payment
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability or health condition get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Some people who used to get
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Disability Living Allowance is being replaced by a benefit called Personal
Independence
Independence means doing things on your own. Making your own choices.
Payment (PIP).
(DLA) now get PIP instead.
- daily living component - Disability Living Allowance - middle or highest care rate
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal
maximum
Maximum means the highest amount, or greatest value that something can be.
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.
Eligibility criteria for Carer's Allowance:
The full eligibility criteria for claiming Carer’s Allowance can be found on the government’s website.
This includes information about:
- if your earnings go up and down
- if someone else also cares for the person
- if you get State Pension
- if you get Pension Credit.
What checks are needed to get Carer’s Allowance?
The Department for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions is sometimes called the DWP. It is part of the government and manages payments and benefits like Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment,
Employment
Employment means having a job.
and Support Allowance, and Income Support.
(DWP) will need to check:
- how much money you earn
- the details of your course if you are a student
- how much you pay for your pension
- how much you pay for care for your children or the person you care for when you are at work
- which benefits you and the person you care for already get.
Easy Reads about Carer's Allowance
How to apply for Carer’s Allowance
To find out how to apply for Carer’s Allowance, we have created a straightforward step-by-step digital guide to take you through the application process.
To get Carer’s Allowance you must:
- live in England, Scotland or Wales
- have been in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years
- be 16 or over
- care for someone for 35 hours or more per week.
You must not:
- earn more than a specific amount
- be in full-time education
- be studying for 21 hours per week or more
The person that you care for must get one of these benefits:
- Personal Independence Payment - daily living component
- Disability Living Allowance - 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
- Adult Disability Payment - daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate
You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
The full eligibility criteria for Carer’s Allowance can be found on the UK government website.
You can find out how much carers allowance is on the government website
Carer’s Allowance is not based on your income or savings. However, your earnings may affect your entitlement.
Carer’s Allowance may affect other benefits you get such as:
- Universal Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- State Pension
- Pension Credit
It may also affect benefits which the person you care for gets.
Visit the government’s website for information about how Carer’s Allowance affects other benefits.
If you get Universal Credit and claim Carer’s Allowance, your Universal Credit payment will be reduced by an amount equal to your Carer’s Allowance payment.
If you get Carer’s Allowance and claim Universal Credit, your Carer’s Allowance payment will count towards the total of your monthly Universal Credit payment.
You can work and get Carer’s Allowance, as long as you spend at least 35 hours per week in your caring role.
You will not be eligible for Carer’s Allowance if you earn more than a specific amount set by the DWP.
Visit the government website to check the amount you can earn while claiming carers allowance.
You must care for someone for 35 hours or more per week.
No. You can not claim Carer’s Allowance if you are in full-time education or studying for 21 hours per week or more.
You can apply for Carer’s Allowance online or by post. Read our How to apply for Carer’s Allowance page.
The information on this page is for
guidance
Guidance means being given clear instructions to be able to do something well.
only. Mencap hold no
responsibility
Responsibility is managing or being in charge of something.
for DWP processes, timescales, decisions, and service.