Carers Benefits
Find out about the benefits you are entitled to as an unpaid Carer
You may be able to claim Carers Allowance if you meet all of the following criteria:
- You are aged 16 years or over
- The person you are caring for is receiving either Personal Independence Payments, Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance (not the lower rate)
- You are caring for 35 hours per week or more
- You do not earn more than £128 a week (after taxes, care costs while you’re at work and 50% of what you pay into your pension)
You can apply for Carers Allowance online or you can request a form to be sent to you for completion. For more information or to start your claim click here.
If you are unable to pay national insurance contributions due to your caring role, Carers Credit can fill the gap in your National Insurance record and protect your eligibility for state pension in the future.
You need to be over 16 and under pension age to apply and you must be caring for at least 20 hours per week. The person you care for does not necessarily need to be receiving any of the disability benefits for you to apply for Carers Credit, you may still be eligible if you complete a Carers Certificate.
Click here to find out more…
Be sure to find out if the person you care for will have their benefits affected by your claim
As a Carer, you may be entitled to a Carer Premium if you are receiving one of the following:
Income Support
Universal Credit
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
To find out if you are entitled to Carer Premium, contact your local Job Centre Plus or Benefits Office.
Pension Credit is a benefit you can get if you have reached your State Pension age.
It’s made up of two parts: Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit.
Savings Credit is only payable if you or your partner reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016.
How much you’ll get depends on your income and savings and whether you’re single or have a husband, wife or civil partner.
If you get Pension Credit, you may be able to get the additional amount for carers added to it, if you claim Carer’s Allowance or have an underlying entitlement to it.
Find out more here.
