Carers Allowance

What is Carer’s Allowance?

Carer’s Allowance is the main state benefit for Carers so it is important to find out if you can receive it. Carer’s Allowance is currently worth £53.10 per week. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for to claim it.

To qualify you need to meet all the rules listed below:

You must be 16 years old or over
You must look after someone for at least 35 hours a week
The person you look after must receive a qualifying disability benefit eg Disability Living Allowance (at the middle or highest rate) or Attendance Allowance
If you work you must not earn more than £95 per week
You must not get one of a list of other benefits (see below)
You must be living in the UK when you claim Carer's Allowance
You must not be a full-time student.

Carer’s Allowance is not means tested, is not affected by any savings you have but it is taxable. You can only get one award of Carer’s Allowance, even if you care for more than one person, but it can be claimed by more than one person in a household, such as a couple caring for each other

Carer Premium

You may also be able to get the Carer Premium - an extra amount of money (up to £29.50 per week) included in the calculation of Income Support, income-based Job Seekers' Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. An amount equivalent to the Carer Premium is used to calculate Pension Credit.

How does Carer's Allowance affect other benefits?

You cannot be paid Carer's Allowance while you are receiving the same amount or more from the following benefits:

Incapacity benefit
State retirement pension
Widow’s and bereavement benefits
Maternity allowance
Severe disablement allowance
Contribution based Job Seeker’s Allowance

This is known as the overlapping benefits rule. However, it still may be worth applying for Carer’s Allowance as you may qualify for Carer Premium.

What happens if the person you care for dies?

Carer’s Allowance can continue for up to 8 weeks after the person you look after dies. You must continue to satisfy all the rules other than those related to the care of a disabled person or that person's receipt of a qualifying benefit.

How to Claim

There are several ways of claiming Carer’s Allowance:

Contact Carers Bucks for a copy of the claim pack and for information on where to get help completing the form.
Contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit and they will send you a form. Their address is: Palatine House, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 1HB. Telephone: 01253 856123
Email: cau.customer-services@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Drop into your local Jobcentre Plus Office or Pension Centre
Ring the Benefit Enquiry Line for a claim form on 0800 88 22 00
(8.30am – 6.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am -1pm Saturday)
Download Carer’s Allowance form in PDF format
Be aware that the form is 49 pages long!
Claim online at www.dwp.gov.uk/carersallowance/

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