Carer’s Allowance is a weekly benefit that helps people who look after someone with a lot of care needs. The government has said it plans to change the benefit cap, so that people getting Carer’s Allowance are not affected by it.

You might be able to get Carer’s Allowance if:

• you are aged 16 or over
• you are caring for someone for at least 35 hours a week.

The person you care for must already be getting certain benefits – usually one of the following:

• The daily living component of Personal Independence Payment at either rate.
• The care component of Disability Living Allowance at the middle or higher rate.
• Attendance Allowance.

It is worth knowing that:

• you do not need to be related to, or living with, the person you care for
• you can be working, but there is a weekly earnings limit of £110 a week (after certain deductions)
• you can’t claim Carer’s Allowance if you are studying for 21 hours a week or more.

If you are a carer but you don’t qualify for Carer’s Allowance, you may still be able to apply for Carer’s Credit.

Carer’s Allowance overlaps with certain other benefits, including:

• State Pension
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit
• bereavement benefits
• contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

The rule for overlapping benefits is that you can’t be paid both benefits at the same time. Instead, you are paid whichever one is worth the most.

Even if this rule means you can’t be paid Carer’s Allowance, it may still be worth applying for it. This is because you would then have what is known as an underlying entitlement to the benefit. The advantages of this are:

• You would be entitled to an additional ‘carer premium’ (see below) in any income-related benefit you are entitled to.
• You may also get credits that count towards National Insurance. This can protect your right to State Pension or other benefits.
• If the other overlapping benefit stops for any reason, you can be paid Carer’s Allowance straight away without having to make a new claim.

However if you are actually paid Carer’s Allowance, this can affect the benefits claimed by the person you care for. It’s a good idea to speak to a welfare rights adviser. They can advise you about which would be the best benefit to claim for you and the person you care for.

Carer’s Allowance is £62.10 a week.

In England, Scotland and Wales call the Carer’s Allowance Unit on 0345 608 4321, textphone 0345 604 5312 or visit gov.uk/carers-allowance

In Northern Ireland, call the Disability and Carers Service on 0300 123 3356, textphone 028 9049 0220 or visit nidirect.gov.uk

Carers may be able to get other financial help as well. For more information, speak to a welfare rights adviser by calling us on 0808 808 00 00.

If you get Carer’s Allowance (or have an underlying entitlement to it) and you get certain other benefits, you may also be able to get the carer premium. This is an extra payment that can be added to:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Reduction.

Extra payments for being a carer can also be added to:

• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit.

To claim any of these extra payments for carers, contact the service that pays you the above benefits and tell them you are getting Carer’s Allowance. The payment should then be added to any benefit you are getting.