We know that caring for someone with a disability can be rewarding but it can also be emotionally, physically, and financially challenging. If you need support, help is available.
Benefits available for carers
If you care for someone with a disability, you may be entitled to extra money through benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Credit, as well as top-ups of existing benefits.
It’s important to make sure that applying for carer benefits will not impact on any existing benefits that you or the person you’re caring for already receives. You can speak to an adviser at your local Citizens Advice or you can use an independent, free and anonymous online benefits calculator to see how any benefits received by you or the person you care for may be impacted.
There are three types of benefits carers may be entitled to:
- Carer’s Allowance
- Carer’s Credit
- Carer Premium or Carer Addition
Carer’s Allowance
If you’re providing substantial, regular care to someone (at least 35 hours per week), you may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance. You do not have to live with or be related to the person you are caring for. If more than one person cares for the same person as you, only one of you can claim Carer’s Allowance. As Carer’s Allowance is a taxable benefit, it will be included as part of your taxable income.
You and the person you care for will both need to meet certain criteria to be eligible for this benefit. Note that Carer’s Allowance may affect other benefits that the person you care for receives. You can read more about this below.
Getting Carer’s Allowance
If you are caring for someone with a disability, you will need to meet the following criteria to be able to apply for Carer’s Allowance:
- Be aged 16 or over
- Spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone
- Have been in England, Scotland, or Wales for at least two of the last three years
- Normally live in England, Scotland, or Wales, or live abroad as a member of the armed forces
- Are not in full-time education
- Are not studying for 21 hours a week or more
- Not subject to immigration control
- Do not earn more than a set weekly amount (after tax, National Insurance, and expenses)
The earnings limit and other details may change. For the latest eligibility criteria and how to apply, visit the Carer’s Allowance page on GOV.UK.
What benefits does the person I’m caring for need to receive?
As well as meeting the criteria above for carers, the person you care for must receive one of the following qualifying benefits:
- Personal Independence Payment – daily living component
- Disability Living Allowance – middle or highest care components
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance – middle or highest care rate
- Attendance Allowance
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Child Disability Payment – middle or highest care rate
- Adult Disability Payment – daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate
There may be some exceptions to the eligibility criteria. If you’re unsure about whether you can apply for Carer’s Allowance, contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit.
If you live in Scotland, you need to apply for the Carer Support Payment, which has replaced Carer’s Allowance. If you already have Carer’s Allowance, you do not need to apply for Carer Support Payment – your benefit will be automatically moved. You can find out more about Carer Support Payment and how to apply on MyGov.Scot.
How Carer’s Allowance affects other benefits
Applying for Carer’s Allowance can affect your current benefits as a carer as well as the benefits of the person you are caring for.
If you get the State Pension or Pension Credit
If you’re over State Pension age, you’ll only get Carer’s Allowance if your State Pension is less than the weekly rate of Carer’s Allowance.
It can still be worth applying because being entitled to Carer’s Allowance can lead to premiums being added to other benefits, such as Pension Credit.
If you get means-tested benefits
Carer’s Allowance counts as income. This means that it affects means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit. You must declare your Carer’s Allowance to any offices that pay your other benefits.
Carer element of Universal Credit
If you care for someone for 35 hours a week or more, and you claim Universal Credit, you can get the carer element. This is an additional amount paid on top of your Universal Credit payment.
If you receive Carer’s Allowance and you apply for Universal Credit, this will count as part of your income. Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit, so you may receive less if you get Carer’s Allowance. Speak to an adviser at Citizen’s Advice or use an online benefits calculator to check which is the best option for you.
How Carer’s Allowance affects the benefits of the person you’re caring for
Carer’s Allowance will not affect certain disability benefits, such as PIP, DLA or Attendance Allowance, the person you care for gets. But it can affect some means-tested benefits, such as Council Tax Support, Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
If the person you’re caring for receives the Severe Disability Premium (SDP) with any of their means-tested benefits, their payment will stop if you claim Carer’s Allowance.
If you’re unsure of how Carer’s Allowance may affect other benefits, you can get in touch with us or speak with a local Citizens Advice adviser.
How to apply for Carer’s Allowance
You can apply for Carer’s Allowance at GOV.UK by completing the form online. Or you can print the form and apply by post. You can also get the form by calling the Carers Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297. Your claim can be backdated by three months from before the date you apply.
When you make a claim, you will need the following:
- Your National Insurance number (and your partner’s if you have one)
- Bank or building Society details (unless you get the State Pension)
- Your employment details and latest payslip (if you’re working)
- Your P45 if you’ve recently finished work
- Your course details if you’re studying
- Details of any expenses, such as the cost of caring for your children or the person you’re caring for, when you are at work
You will also need the following details of the person you care for:
- Their date of birth and address
- Their National Insurance number (if they are 16 and over)
- Their Disability Living Allowance reference (if they are under 16)
Carer's Credit
Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit that can help with any missing payments in your National Insurance record and can help towards your State Pension.
You may be eligible for Carer’s Credit if:
- You’re aged 16 or over
- Under State Pension age
- You care for one or more people for at least 20 hours a week
The person you care for must get one of the following:
- Personal Independence Payment – daily living component
- Disability Living Allowance – middle or highest rate of the care component
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Child Disability Payment – middle or highest care rate
- Adult Disability Payment – daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance – middle or highest care rate
If the person you care for does not receive one of the listed qualifying benefits, it may still be possible to get Carer’s Credit. Find out more about Carer’s Credit and how to apply at GOV.UK.
Additional help with the cost of living
There are often additional costs that come with being a carer that can also put a strain on your finances. Find out what financial support and other benefits you may be able to get to help you with the cost of living.
Turn2us is a national charity providing practical help to people who are struggling financially. Their grants search tool will show you grants you may be able to apply for. A grant is money that you do not have to pay back.
Author: Muscular Dystrophy UK
Last reviewed: June 2025
Next review due: June 2028
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