Benefits for Carers

If you care for someone with an illness or disability, you may be entitled to carers benefits, or other financial support. If you, or the person you care for, are already receiving benefits, it’s important to make sure that applying for carers benefits won’t impact on any existing benefits you already receive. You can check this by getting support from a local welfare rights service or through using an independent, free and anonymous benefits calculator online.

Benefits calculators – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

If you’re providing substantial, regular care to someone, you may be eligible for Carers 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. Carer’s Allowance is a taxable benefit and 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. 

Eligibility criteria for carers:

• You must be aged 16 or over
• You spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone
• You’ve been in England, Scotland, or Wales for at least two of the last three years
• You normally live in England, Scotland, or Wales, or live abroad as a member of the armed forces
• You’re not in full time education or studying for 21 hours a week or more
• Your earnings are £139 or less a week (after tax, National Insurance, and expenses)
• You’re not subject to immigration control

In addition to meeting the criteria above, the person you care for must receive one of the following qualifying benefits:

• Personal Independence Payment – the daily living component
• Adult Disability Payment (Scotland) – the daily living component
• Disability Living Allowance – the middle or highest care components
• Child Disability Payment (Scotland) – the middle or highest care components
• Attendance Allowance
• 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

There may be some exceptions to the eligibility criteria. If you’re unsure about whether you can apply for carers allowance, contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297. If you’re confident you meet the eligibility criteria, you can apply online at GOV.UK.

A new benefit called Carer Support Payment is replacing Carer’s Allowance in Scotland.

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 – the daily living component
• Disability Living Allowance – the middle or highest rate of the care component
• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Child Disability Payment – the middle or highest care rate
• Adult Disability Payment – the daily living component at the standard or enhanced 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.

If you’re eligible for Carer’s Allowance, you may be able to receive a Carer Premium (or Carer Addition if you’re of State Pension age) or Carer Element if you receive Universal Credit. This is extra money paid within any other means-tested benefits you may receive.

Find out more about Carer Premium or Carer Element on the Carers UK website.

There are often additional costs that come with being a carer that can put a strain on your finances. Visit our cost-of-Living hub to find out what financial support and other benefits you may be entitled to.

Cost of living | Muscular Dystrophy UK

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 eligible for. A grant is money that you do not have to pay back.

Financial support | Carers UK