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