Can I claim Carer’s Allowance?

Carer’s Allowance is the main benefit for carers. You have to be caring for someone for 35 hours a week or more, and at the moment (March 2017) it’s worth £62.10 a week, which is great if you’ve had to cut down your working hours to care for your loved one. You must be earning less than £110 a week net to qualify, but that can include deductions for any care you have to buy in to cover times when you are at work. So far, so simple.

Except it’s not quite that simple, as many of our SimplyHealth Care Community members have found. It’s a means-tested benefit, so you have to show the Local Authority proof of your income. You have to be over 16, not in full-time education or study, and have lived in the UK for two of the last three years. Crucially, the person you care for must be receiving at least one of these benefits – Personal Independence Payment daily living component, Disability Living Allowance at the middle or higher rate or Constant Attendance Allowance.

The following link is the official and most reliable source of information, despite being a bit dry: gov.uk/carers-allowance

What’s your experience of claiming Carer’s Allowance? Do you have advice for other members who are thinking of claiming? Share you story on the Care Community forum.

Best wishes,

SimplyHealth Care Community team

[bluebell99]

My husband claims Carers for me and the Citizens Advice went through everything and filled out the form for us. We had to send in bank statements, which is fair enough and it all went very smoothly.

Unfortunately, next year when he retires, the Carers allowance will stop, but I will not be retirement age, (since they moved the goal posts) for another year after that, so will not be entitled to Attendance Allowance as I will be too young.

It is an odd system.

[caro114]

my mum has got cancer i would like to know if i can claim carerea allowance for looking after her

[honey2k1]

if my partner is my carer an lives with me,are they suppose to take 50 pound off me an my partner for been my carer out of our esa thanks x

[CTReed]

How do I qualify for carers allowance? we both have a state pension and I have a company pension. My wife is 75 and I am going on 73. She needs care 52 weeks per year and we have not had a holiday for the ?5 years. Do I qualify for carers allowance ?

[Allule in reply to CTReed]

I think you need to look at Attendance Allowance.

[07403567317]

My wife is a cancer patient and I'm working 43 hours per week but now I have reduced it for 21 hours. Are mine entitled to carer allowance? .

[conf0uned]

I should add I was born 7th June 1930 . I have been in hospital for some. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawhen i leave my flat I NEED HER TO ESCORT ME IN CASE i FALL SO CAN i CLAIM MOBILITY ALLOWANCE? I