Carer's Allowance
What is it?
Carer's Allowance is a benefit to help people who look after someone who is disabled. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
Claiming Carer's Allowance may affect any other benefits, allowances, pensions and entitlements you, or the person you care for, are receiving.
If the person you are caring for lives alone and receives Income Support or Pension Credit, you should get advice before making a claim for Carer's Allowance. In some circumstances you could reduce the amount of benefit they are entitled to by claiming Carer's Allowance.
Do I qualify?
You can claim Carer's Allowance if you are aged 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a disabled person.
The disabled person must also be receiving one of the following benefits:
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance (at the middle or highest rate for personal care)
- War Pensions Constant Attendance Allowance, or
- Constant Attendance Allowance paid with Industrial Injuries Disablement Allowance.
You cannot claim Carer's Allowance if you are in full-time education with 21 hours or more a week of supervised study or earn more than £90 a week after certain deductions have been made (such as Income Tax).
For an easy way to find out which benefits might apply to you and your circumstances go to What can I claim?
The Benefits Maximisation Service can provide personal advice on what you may be entitled to and help you make a claim. For more information go to Benefits Maximisation Service.
How much is it?
The weekly rate is £50.55.
You may be able to get an additional amount for your husband, wife or civil partner or someone living with you who looks after your dependent children.
Payment of Carer's Allowance can be complex, because it is affected by certain other benefits, including Incapacity Benefit and State Retirement Pension. If you are already getting one of these benefits, you can only be paid Carers Allowance if the other benefit is less than £50.55 a week, and you will only be paid the difference between the other benefit and £50.55.
However, if you cannot be paid Carers Allowance because you are already receiving another benefit, it can still be worth claiming, because you can establish something called an Underlying Entitlement. This can increase your entitlement to means-tested benefits, such as Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
How do I apply?
You can get a claim form from:
- The Carer's Allowance Unit, Palatine House, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 1HB
Telephone: 01253 856 123
Text phone: 01772 899 489
You can ring these numbers between 9 am and 5pm Monday to Thursday and between 9 am and 4.30pm Friday.
Email: cau.customer-services@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
- Your local Jobcentre Plus
- The Benefit Enquiry Line for a claim form and advice on how to fill it in.
Telephone: 0800 88 22 00
Text phone: 0800 24 33 55.
You can ring these numbers between 8.30 am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday and between 9 am and 1pm on Saturdays.
Web: Download the claim form. If you download the form, please complete and return it as soon as possible as the date your form is received will affect the date from which you will start to receive Carer's Allowance.
Download Carer's Allowance claim form in PDF format (213K) (opens new window)
What if I am not satisfied with the decision?
If you are refused benefit you can write asking for a revision within one month from the date on the decision. This means that a different Decision Maker will look at your claim again.
It is very important that you reply within one month, as you may not be able to challenge the decision otherwise.
If you are still unsatisfied once the revision has taken place you can ask to have your case heard by an independent appeal tribunal. This usually has to be on a form called a GL24, which is available from any DWP office. You can also ask the DWP to post one to you. Again, you must make your appeal within one month of the date of the revision.
Our Benefit Maximisation Service can help you with revisions and appeals.
What if my circumstances change?
Changes to your circumstances - and those of the person you care for - can affect your eligibility for Carer's Allowance, or the amount you get. For example:
-
Changes to your income or employment
-
Starting full-time education
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Taking a break from caring
-
The person you care for stops receiving a qualifying benefit.
You must inform the DWP straight away if your circumstances change.
Disclaimer
Although every effort is made to ensure the information on these pages is accurate and up to date, it should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law.