The person you care for The person you care for must already get one of these benefits: Personal Independence Payment - daily living component Disability Living Allowance - the 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 Your eligibility All of the following must apply: you’re 16 or over you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone you’ve been in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if you’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection status) you normally live in England, Scotland or Wales, or you live abroad as a member of the armed forces (you might still be eligible if you’re moving to or already living in an EEA country or Switzerland ) you’re not in full-time education you’re not studying for 21 hours a week or more you’re not subject to immigration control your earnings are £123 or less a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses If your earnings are sometimes more than £123 a week you might still be eligible for Carer’s Allowance. Your average earnings may be calculated to work out if you’re eligible. Calculating your earnings Your earnings are any income from employment and self-employment after tax, National Insurance and expenses. Expenses can include: 50% of your pension contributions equipment you need to do your job, for example specialist clothing travel costs between different workplaces that are not paid for by your employer, for example fuel or train fares business costs if you’re self-employed, for example a computer you only use for work If you pay a carer to look after the disabled person or your children while you work, you can treat care costs that are less than or equal to 50% of your earnings as an expense. The carer must not be your spouse, partner, parent, child or sibling. Example You earn £100 a week (after tax, National Insurance and other expenses) and spend £60 a week on care while you work. You can treat £50 of this as an expense. Payments that do not count as earnings include: money received from pensions contributions towards your living or accommodation costs from someone you live with (they cannot be a tenant or boarder) the first £20 a week and 50% of the rest of any income you make from someone boarding in your home a loan or advance payment from your employer If you’re not eligible You might be eligible for Carer’s Credit if you’re not eligible for Carer’s Allowance.

Effect on other benefits

Carer’s Allowance can affect the other benefits that both you and the person you care for get. Effect on the benefits of the person you care for When you claim Carer’s Allowance, the person you care for will stop getting: a severe disability premium paid with their benefits an extra amount for severe disability paid with Pension Credit, if they get one They might also stop getting reduced Council Tax. Contact their local council to find out if this affects them. Effect on your benefits When you claim Carer’s Allowance your other benefits may be reduced, but your total benefit payments will usually either go up or stay the same. Carer’s Allowance does not count towards the benefit cap . If you get Working Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit, you must contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to tell them about your Carer’s Allowance claim. Use a benefits calculator to work out how your other benefits will be affected.

Before you apply make sure you have your: National Insurance number (if you have a partner you’ll need theirs too) bank or building society details (unless you get your State Pension) employment details and latest payslip if you’re working P45 if you’ve recently finished work course details if you’re studying details of any expenses, for example pension contributions or the cost of caring for your children or the disabled person while you’re at work You also need details of the person you care for. You need their: date of birth and address National Insurance number if they’re 16 or over Disability Living Allowance reference if they’re under 16 You can backdate your claim by up to 3 months. Apply now Other ways to apply If you cannot apply online, you can apply by post . The address to send your application to is at the end of the form. If you disagree with a decision You can challenge a decision about your claim. This is called asking for mandatory reconsideration.

Report a change in circumstances

You must report any change in your circumstances if you’re claiming or have applied for Carer’s Allowance. This includes if you get a job, temporarily stop providing care for someone or stop being a carer altogether. If you do not report changes straight away or give wrong or incomplete information, you could be paid the wrong amount and have to pay it back. You could also have your Carer’s Allowance stopped, get a fine or be taken to court. You must tell the Department for Work and Pensions if the person you’re caring for dies. If you temporarily stop providing care for someone You can still get Carer’s Allowance if you temporarily stop providing care for someone. This means any period when you spend less than 35 hours a week caring for the other person. For example, you could get Carer’s Allowance for up to: 12 weeks if either of you go into respite care or hospital 4 weeks if either of you go on holiday

You can work and get Carer’s Allowance, as long as you spend at least 35 hours in your caring role. You can get support for you or the person you care for from your employer, local councils and other organisations. Time off for an emergency You can ask your employer for time off to deal with an emergency involving someone else who depends on you for care. How much time off you get depends on your situation. If you do not qualify for time off, your employer may allow you ‘compassionate leave’ for emergency situations. Flexible working If you need to work more flexibly, for example work part-time or work from home, you can request flexible working . You do not have to tell your employer about your caring role or give another reason why you need to work more flexibly. Respite care or ‘short break’ care If you need someone to help look after the person you care for while you’re at work, you can apply for respite care (also known as ‘short break’ care). Respite care options include: getting a paid carer or a volunteer to sit with the person you look after for a few hours a regular place in a day care centre for the person you care for Your local council may pay for respite care but you and the person you care for will need an assessment before you can apply. Contact your local authority for information about local support . Advice on starting work If you need help starting or returning to work, contact your local Jobcentre Plus for help on how to combine work with your caring responsibilities.

Carer's Allowance

How it works

You could get £66.15 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.

You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.

You do not get paid extra if you care for more than one person.

Carer’s Allowance can affect the other benefits that you and the person you care for get. You have to pay tax on it if your income is over the Personal Allowance.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

How you’re paid

You can choose to be paid weekly in advance or every 4 weeks.

It will be paid into an account, for example your bank account.

What else you can get

For each week you get Carer’s Allowance you’ll automatically get National Insurance credits.

You may also be able to apply for:

support from your local council
a Council Tax Reduction
Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or out of work
Income Support if you’re on a low income
income-based Employment and Support Allowance if you cannot work because of a medical condition or disability
Pension Credit if you’re over working age
grants and bursaries to help pay for courses and training

If you live in Scotland and get Carer’s Allowance, you may also get Carer’s Allowance Supplement.

Get help and advice

You can get more help and advice from:

Print entire guide

Stay at home

Carer's Allowance

How it works

How you’re paid

What else you can get

Get help and advice

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Stay at home

Carer's Allowance

How it works

How you’re paid

What else you can get

Get help and advice

Related content

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK