Benefits you can claim as a carer

In 2023/24, Carer’s Allowance is £76.75 a week

You might be able to claim it if you:

• spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone
• are aged 16 or over
• aren’t in full-time education or studying for 21 hours a week or more
• earn £139 (2023/24) a week or less (after tax, National Insurance and expenses).

That’s £7,228 a year.

The person you’re caring for must also be getting a benefit because of their illness or disability. For example:

• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (the middle or higher rate of the care component)
• Personal Independence Payment (either rate of the daily living component)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment.

Carer’s Allowance is taxable. But you’ll only have to pay tax if you have other sources of taxable income. For example, occupational or personal pensions or part-time earnings. And if this combined income takes you over the threshold for paying tax – £12,570 a year in 2023/24). Carer’s Allowance on its own is currently below this threshold.

Carer’s Allowance can also affect other benefits you might be already getting – so you might be paid less in another benefit.

It will count as income if you’re getting Universal Credit. But you might also qualify for extra Universal Credit because you’re a carer.

It can also affect the benefits of the person you’re caring for. For example, if they’re getting Severe Disability Premium – this might stop if you claim Carer’s Allowance.

If your weekly take home pay is more than £139 (2023/24) after deductions, you’re no longer entitled to Carer’s Allowance.

HMRC now give up-to-date information about earnings to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

If you earn more than this in any given week, it’s important to tell the DWP. If you don’t, you’ll be asked to pay back the amount you were overpaid.

If your earnings vary from week to week, it’s important to let the DWP know. This is so they can average out your earnings so you stay under the limit.

Your local Jobcentre Plus – or Jobs and Benefits Office in Northern Ireland – will be able to tell you which benefits to apply for. Or you can contact your local Citizens Advice.

There’s more information about Carer’s Allowance on these websites:

• find out more about Carer’s Allowance at GOV.UKOpens in a new window
• watch a video and find examples of how Carer’s Allowance works at Carers UK Opens in a new window
• use our Benefits Calculator.
  

Carer’s Allowance is being replaced by Carer Support Payment in Scotland. The gradual roll out will start at the end of 2023 and continue into 2024. Until then you’ll continue to get Carer’s Allowance but you’ll also get Carer’s Allowance Supplement payments. 

The first payment of £245.70 is in June. You’ll get it if you were getting Carer’s Allowance on 10 April 2023.

The second payment is in December and will be £245.70. You’ll get this if you're receiving Carer’s Allowance on 9 October 2023. 

You won’t get Carer’s Allowance Supplement if you have an underlying entitlement to Carer’s Allowance. Carer’s Allowance Supplement won’t affect your other benefits or tax credits.

New applications from 19 November 2023 for carers living in the Dundee, Perth and Kinross or Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) local authorities will be part of a Carer Support Payment trial. More areas will be added over 2024. 

Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit that fills up gaps in your National Insurance record.

It helps towards your State Pension while you’re not making any contributions because of your caring role.

You might be able to get Carer’s Credit if:

• you’re aged 16 or over
• you’re not yet getting State Pension
• you don’t qualify for Carer’s Allowance
• you spend at least 20 hours a week caring for someone
• the person you’re looking after gets a benefit because of their illness or disability. For example:

  • Disability Living Allowance - middle or highest rate of the care component 

  • Attendance Allowance. 

  • Constant Attendance Allowance 

  • Personal Independence Payment daily living part 

  • Armed Forces Independence Payment 

  • Child Disability Payment (CDP) middle or highest rate of the care component.  

If the person you’re caring for doesn’t get one of these benefits, you might still be able to claim by completing a ‘Care Certificate’.

This is a benefit you can get if you’ve reached State Pension age. It’s designed to top up your income in retirement. It’s made up of two parts:

• Guarantee Credit

• Savings Credit (only available if you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016).

One in three people who are entitled to Pension Credit don’t claim it. If you’re one of them, you’re missing out on hundreds of pounds a year.

If you live with a partner, you’ll only be able to claim Pension Credit if you’ve both reached State Pension age.

Contact your local council to find out more about what help they might be able to provide. 

If you’re caring for a severely disabled person for at least 35 hours a week, you might qualify for the carer element of Universal Credit.

If you’re caring for someone with limited mobility, they might be able to get support from the Motability scheme. This can help by providing a car, wheelchair or powered scooter.

Blue badge parking permits allow drivers who have passengers with mobility issues to park in more convenient locations, such as disabled parking bays.

You can also park on single or double lines for up to three hours.

The Disabled Persons Railcard entitles the cardholder and a carer or companion one third off most adult rail fares on the National Rail network.

It costs £20 a year, or £54 for a three-year card. You can buy one at any staffed ticket office or apply online. 

This card entitles you to one free ticket when you take the person you’re caring for to the cinema. All national cinema chains accept it. You can apply for the card online.

There are lots more free or discounted entry offers available to carers at museums, leisure centres and National Trust sites across the country.

They’re not always advertised – so it’s worth asking when you’re buying tickets.

Several local authorities also offer carers’ shopping, leisure and other discounts. Ask your local authority what extra support they offer.

Claiming carer’s benefits can be complicated. So it’s important to make sure you’re getting the right entitlements.