Carer's Allowance

Carer's Allowance is the main state benefit for carers so it's important to find out if you can receive it. Carer's Allowance is currently worth £50.55 a week.

To qualify you need to meet all the rules. Please check each of the rules carefully as they are quite complicated.

• You must be 16 years old or over
• You must look after someone for at least 35 hours a week
• The person you look after must receive a qualifying disability benefit 
• If you work you must not earn more than £95
• You must not get one of a list of other benefits
• You must be living in the UK when you claim Carer's Allowance
• You must not be a full-time student

More detailed information on each of the rules is provided by clicking the link 'Rules for claiming Carer's Allowance' below.

You may also be able to get the Carer Premium - an extra amount of money (up to £27.75 a week) included in the calculation of Income Support, income-based Job Seekers' Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit (Rent Rebate in Northern Ireland). An amount equivalent to the Carer Premium is used to calculate Pension Credit.

If you are awarded Carer's Allowance, find out whether you qualify for the Carer Premium or its Pension Credit equivalent as you may get more money.

How to claim

If you meet the criteria, you can make a claim by filling in a claim pack  DS700. Get this from:

• Your local Social Security office
• The Benefits Enquiry Line on 0800 882 200 (or 0800 220 674 in Northern Ireland)
• Carers in England, Scotland and Wales can claim online.

It can take serveral weeks before you receive a decision in writing. If you are told that you don't qualify for Carer's Allowance, you have one month from the date on the letter in which to appeal.  If you can't get Carer's Allowance because you already get another benefit, you could still get the Carer Premium.