Carer's Allowance - Can I get Carer's Allowance?

You can get Carer's Allowance if you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week.

The person you care for must be getting a benefit because of their disability, for example:

• Attendance Allowance for disabled people over 66

• The middle or high rate care component of Disability Living Allowance for disabled children in England, Wales or Northern Ireland

• The middle or high rate care component of Child Disability Payment for disabled children in Scotland

• Either level of the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment for working-age disabled people

• Either level of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment for working-age disabled people in Scotland

• The middle or high rate care component of Scottish Adult DLA

• Armed Forces Independence Payment for people with disabilities as a result of their service in the armed forces

• Constant Attendance Allowance (of £90.20 or more) paid with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, or basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension.

You do not need to be living with the person you are caring for.

If you are in paid work, you might still be able to get Carer's Allowance but you must not earn more than £196 in take home pay each week. However, certain expenses can be deducted from this.

It does not matter if you have savings as these will not be taken into account.

You do not have to have paid any national insurance contributions to get Carer's Allowance.

You do not qualify for Carer’s Allowance if you are in full-time education or if someone else is already claiming Carer’s Allowance for looking after the same person.

Before you make a claim for Carer's Allowance, you should check with the person you are caring for, as it may affect some of the benefits they receive if you are successful. For example, losing a Severe Disability Premium from their:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit (England, Wales, Scotland) and Housing Benefit (Northern Ireland)

If the person you care for dies, you will continue to be entitled to Carer’s Allowance for eight more weeks.