Carer’s Allowance – what are the rules?

Carers in the UK can claim a number of benefits to help supplement their income while they are caring for a loved one. But there are some fairly strict rules about what you might be entitled to. Here’s a guide to those rules, but make sure you talk to your local Benefits Office or Local Authority for clarification.

Carers Allowance is currently £62.70 a week. To qualify, you must:

•Spend at least 35 hours a week caring

•Earn less than the weekly minimum (currently £110 a week), after deductions for the cost of employing additional care while you are at work

•Be aged 16 years or over

•If you’re in education, not having more than 21 hours supervised study a week.

What else? The person you care for must already be getting the Personal Independent Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance (for people with industrial or war disabilities) or Armed Forces Independence Allowance.

Claiming Carer’s Allowance may affect other benefits you and the person you care for get, but your total benefits should end up the same or slightly more.

Care Community team

[Janet1941]

What about carers who are pensioners? I am 76 and lookafter my husband 77 who has advanced Alzheimer's He receives attendance allowance but I receive nothing above my £70 pension. We find it very difficult to make ends meet. I would like to have a little more time to myself but can't afford to go out anywhere. Is there some extra help for people like us?

[Lottieonline]

Can I person who is claiming PIP for themselves also claim carers allowance for their daughter who is in receipt of PIP high level for care & mobility?

She is living in B&B right night while waiting for a council adaptation flat to come up.

Many thanks

[jimbrophy]

carer in Ireland is 350 euro a week

[Hidden]

I'm no expert on matters concerning benefits bluepettals2 and maybe someone with more knowledge will pitch in to give you a clearer answer, but I did just check the GovUK website and it does seem that, when you claim Carer's Allowance, other benefits such as your government pension will be factored in to give a total that can be claimed overall. And the final sentence says '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'.

I don't know if you are familiar with the GovUK website, but it's quite clearly set out, and in case you aren't, you should be able to find the relevant section at:

gov.uk/carers-allowance

[sashamc123]

Hi just wondering if my 16 YEAR OLD SON CAN CLAIM CARE ALLOWANCE FOR TAKE IN CARE OF SOMEONE IF I STILL RECEIVE TAX CREDITS AND CHILD BENEFIT FOR HIM

[Hidden in reply to sashamc123]

Hi sashamc123, As always, I have to say I'm no expert on benefits, but looking at the Care Community Team's original post, it does point out that the receipt of other benefits can affect the ability to get Carer's Allowance, as all benefits are considered together. As he's someone else's dependant, (namely yours), I feel that might preclude it. But, as always, don't take my word for it. Probably your best bet would be to get advice from the Citizens' Advice Bureau. They will definitely be able to point you in the right direction with this.

[Bella395]

sashamc123 - is your 16 year old actually already providing care for you or someone else and if so, is it for a minimum of 35 hours a week? If so, have you had a social services carers assessment? That is a good place to start because if the child is still in education caring could impinge upon that. As has been said, check the rules in the original post or on the government website but sixteen years old is very young to be taking on a carer's responsibilities so please seek help from social services.

[atkins]

My wife has been registed partially blind since 2008,and i have been taking my wife to QMC (macular clinic)very 6-8 weeks for injections,but now she has been on request transfered to Newark hospital to cut down my driving at the age of 78yrs.My wife has not been reviewed since 2008.At that review she was awarded full Attendance Allowance along with a State Pension of £75.45.I understand that changes have been made to benifits since then,is my wife entitled to Pension credit or any other benifit she is now aged 80yrs Dof B 8/1/39,i have spent £300 on glasses which i believe i could have had help had she been on Pension Credit.Any help or advise will be welcome.My wife does not have any private Pension.Thanks. D Atkins.

[Hidden]

Hi atkins,

I see you've recently joined us, so welcome to our Care Community. I think you are right. Some of the rules have changed around benefits in recent times, and also, and usually more importantly, your wife's circumstances, if not her condition, will have changed since initially being registered partially sighted, too. That's quite a number of years. And it's recognised that this happens, so you are entitled to a re-assessment to include any changes over time.

I'm far from being an expert on benefits, so I can't tell you the specifics, but perhaps another member will be able to. Otherwise I would just ask for a reassessment on the grounds of changed circumstances, and see how you get on. The provision of things like glasses, or dental treatment can indeed make an enormous hole in a small income, so it's certainly worth your while to at least give it a go.

Very best wishes.