What is Carer's Allowance?
Carer's Allowance (CA) is money for people who spend at least 35 hours a week providing regular care to someone who has a disability.
The person you care for must be getting a relevant benefit because of their disability, which in some cases has to be paid at a certain rate.
CA is paid at £69.70 a week. The amount paid is usually increased each April.
You don’t have to be related to or live with the person you care for to get Carer’s Allowance.
You can qualify for Carer’s Allowance whether you are in or out of work. However, you must not earn more than £132 a week.
Carer’s Allowance does not depend on national insurance contributions and is not means-tested – in other words, it is not based on your personal income or savings – but earnings may affect your entitlement.
Carer’s Allowance usually counts in full as income when calculating your entitlement for means-tested benefits.
If you get Carer’s Allowance (or are entitled to it but do not get it because of Overlapping Benefit Rules), you will also get a Carer’s Premium/Additional amount included in your means-tested benefit (Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Pension Credit and Housing Benefit).
People living in Scotland who are receiving Carer's Allowance could also get an extra payment known as Carer's Allowance Supplement.
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Age rules: You must be over 16
Type of benefit: Non means-tested (but you mustn't earn over £132 per week)
Taxable: Yes
Administered by: Carer’s Allowance Unit, Department for Work and Pensions
Reviewed: March 2022