What is Carer’s Allowance and who can get it?
Carer’s Allowance is a benefit for people aged 16 or over, who earn less than £128 per week and who spend 35 hours or more a week caring for a person who:
- has a severe disability
- receives the middle or higher rate of the care component of
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 Payment
Personal
Independence
Independence means doing things on your own. Making your own choices.
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 (DLA) now get PIP instead.
(PIP).
, or - receives the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment, or
- receives the care component of Attendance Allowance.
You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
Is Carer's Allowance means tested?
Carer’s Allowance is not means tested, or based on any
National Insurance
National Insurance is a type of
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
The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much tax people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) should work.
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.
.
. It is money that is taken out of the money you earn each month. You pay National Insurance so that you can get a
pension
A pension is money you get when you are older to pay for the things you need. You can pay money into your pension when you are working so there is more money for when you are older.
when you are older.
Contributions. Savings and unearned income do not affect Carer’s Allowance, but earnings from work do.
If you are already receiving an income replacement benefit, such as a state retirement pension, universal credit or income based
employment
Employment means having a job.
and support allowance you may not receive Carer's Allowance as they are subject to the 'overlapping benefit rules'.
However, you will still receive a Carer's Premium which may increase the amount of the other means tested benefits that you receive.
If the person that you care for receives the Severe Disability Premium then they will lose that benefit once you start receiving Carer's Allowance. It could also have an impact on your means tested benefits.
You should consider what the impact will be on your benefits, and the benefits of the person that you care for before applying for Carer's Allowance. Citizens Advice can carry out 'better off calculations' to help you figure out the best option, or you can do your own calculations using the Turn2Us benefits calculator.
Is Carer's Allowance taxable?
Carer's Allowance is taxable. However, carers will only have to pay tax if they have other sources of taxable income such as occupational or personal pensions or part-time earnings, and if this combined income takes them over the threshold for paying tax. Carer's Allowance on its own is below this threshold.
If you are paid Carer's Allowance, it will count as income when your means-tested benefits are calculated. However your means-tested benefits calculations will include a Carer Premium, Carer Addition or carer element.
What are the benefits of Carer's Allowance?
You will get National Insurance contribution credits, which count towards your entitlement to basic state pension and other benefits.
You are also allowed to earn a set amount of money in addition to your Carer’s Allowance – this amount is calculated net of tax, National Insurance contributions and allowable expenses - such as paying someone else to care. However, you must tell the Carer’s Allowance Unit if you plan to take on any work.
As mentioned above, you will be entitled to the additional Carer's Premium, which may increase the amount of means tested benefits you receive.
To receive the Carer Premium, you need to be claiming one of these other benefits:
- Income support
- income-related
Employment and Support Allowance
Employment and Support Allowance is sometimes called ESA. It is a benefit for people who find it harder to get a job because of a disability or a long term health condition.
(ESA) - pension credit
- housing benefit
- council tax support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA).
You will also qualify for a Christmas bonus.
How do I get Carer's Allowance?
We can advise you in person on how to claim Carer's Allowance - contact our help and advice line. Or you can find out more on the GOV.uk website.
Useful resources
We've created some useful factsheets and precedent letters (which are designed to address complex legal situations) to help you know your
rights
Rights are the things everyone should be allowed to do like have a say, or go to school.
and when to get advice about a problem.
You can access these on our Information and advice resources page.
If you need advice on completing a letter, please contact the Learning Disability Helpline.
How to get the support you need
Contact the
Learning Disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
Helpline, our advice and support line, for
guidance
Guidance means being given clear instructions to be able to do something well.
and information about what support we can offer you.
Or why not take a look at our online
community
A community is the people and places in an area.
? This is a place for parents and family carers of people with a learning disability to share experiences, advice and support.