FAQ

Below are some of the common questions that carers ask us about Carer's Allowance.

My husband and I both look after my mother. Can we both get Carer's Allowance?

No. Only one person can get Carer's Allowance for each person receiving the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance (AA). If two or more people share the care, you need to decide who is to claim the benefit. This will depend on any other benefits you receive, your income tax situation, and your national insurance contribution record.

I look after both my parents. Can I get two lots of  Carer's Allowance?

No. You can receive only one Carer's Allowance no matter how many people you care for. If you care for more than one person you need to decide who to claim the benefit for.  Claiming Carer's Allowance may reduce the amount of Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit (Rate Rebate in Northern Ireland) that the person you look after receives. The answer to the question below should help you to decide who to claim for.

If I claim Carer's Allowance will the person I care for be worse off?

Possibly. The person you are caring for may lose money if:

• they live alone or only with specified people and

• they receive Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit (Rate Rebate in Northern Ireland).

The calculation of Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit may contain an amount called the Severe Disability Premium. An equivalent amount is used in Pension Credit. This is included in the benefit calculation of people who live alone, or live only with people who appear on a specific list (including people who are severely disabled people or under 18).  If you claim Carer's Allowance for looking after them, they may lose this premium.

 I have a partner. Can I claim extra for them?

Yes, in some circumstances. The amount you may get depends on your partner's income. The Carer's Allowance claim pack provides information about this.

Will my retirement pension be protected if I get Carer's Allowance?

The amount of state retirement pension that you will get depends upon your national insurance contribution record. Nearly all carers who receive Carer's Allowance get a national insurance credit for each week the benefit is paid - this protects their rights to a state retirement pension and other benefits. The exception is married women who have chosen to pay reduced national insurance contributions and rely on their husband's contributions for their pension.

You can also use any national insurance credits paid while you get Carer's Allowance to help you claim Job Seeker's Allowance and Incapacity Benefit.

I should have started getting Carer's Allowance a while ago but didn't hear about it until now. Can I get any money backdated?

Yes. You can get Carer's Allowance for up to 3 months before you apply. You must have satisfied all of Carer's Allowance rules during the period you are claiming for.

If you were getting Income Support you will only get backdated payments worth the equivalent of the Carer Premium. Also, any Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit (Rate Rebate in Northern Ireland) may be recalculated to reflect your new situation as a carer.

To backdate your claim, find the part of the claim form where it asks for the date from which you are claiming the benefit. Write the date when you first qualified for Carer's Allowance.

Can I stop caring temporarily and still get Carer's Allowance?

Sometimes you can.

Taking a break: Once you have been getting Carer's Allowance for 22 weeks you can have four weeks' break every six months and be paid the benefit during these breaks.

Going into hospital: if you or the person you care for has to go into hospital you can still get Carer's Allowance if:

• The total number of weeks you are not caring isn't more than 12 weeks in any six-month period and

• The person you care for continues to receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance (AA).

What happens after I stop receiving Carer's Allowance or the Carer Premium?

You may be able to claim:

• Income Support if your income and savings are low enough and you are not expected to look for work.

• Jobseeker's Allowance if you are under retirement age (60 for a woman; 65 for a man) and looking for work. 

• Incapacity Benefit if you are under retirement age (60 for a woman; 65 for a man) and unable to work because of ill-health.

• Pension Credit if you are 60 or over and your income and savings are low enough.

Ask an advice agency to check your benefit entitlement if your Carer's Allowance stops, or if you think it may stop soon.

Find out about Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance and Incapacity Benefit.