Carers Allowance
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What is it and how can it help?
Carer’s Allowance is a benefit for people who are giving regular and substantial care to disabled people. It is a taxable benefit and forms part of your taxable income.
You could get £76.75 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for. You do not get paid extra if you care for more than one person. If someone else also cares for the same person as you, only one of you can claim Carer’s Allowance.
Who is it for?
All of the following must apply:
- you’re 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 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if you’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection status)
- you normally live in England, Scotland or Wales, or you live abroad as a member of the armed forces (you might still be eligible if you’re moving to or already living in an EEA country or Switzerland)
- you’re not in full-time education
- you’re not studying for 21 hours a week or more
- you’re not subject to immigration control
- you don’t earn more than £139 a week from employment or self-employment – after deductions such as income tax, National Insurance and half of your pension contributions
The person you’re caring for must get one of the following benefits, called ‘qualifying benefits’:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- the care component of Disability Living Allowance at the middle or highest rate
- the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (either rate)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
How to apply, evidence needed and website link
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/carers-allowance-claim-form
Before you apply make sure you have your:
- National Insurance number (if you have a partner you’ll need theirs too)
- bank or building society details (unless you get your State Pension)
- employment details and latest payslip if you’re working
- P45 if you’ve recently finished work
- course details if you’re studying
- details of any expenses, for example pension contributions or the cost of caring for your children or the disabled person while you’re at work
You also need details of the person you care for. You need their:
- date of birth and address
- National Insurance number if they’re 16 or over
- Disability Living Allowance reference if they’re under 16
>You can backdate your claim by up to 3 months.
Additional information
The rules about receiving Carer’s Allowance whilst receiving other benefits are complicated – you can get help from your nearest Citizens Advice to check you’re getting what you should.
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.
You’ll get no Carer’s Allowance or less if you get some other benefits including:
- state retirement pension
- contributory ESA
- contribution-based JSA
- Maternity Allowance
If your Carer’s Allowance is either the same as or less than the other benefit, you will get the other benefit rather than Carer’s Allowance. If the other benefit is less than your Carer’s Allowance, you will get the other benefit and the balance of your Carer’s Allowance on top.
These are known as ‘means tested benefits’. Carer’s Allowance counts as income when these benefits are worked out. You get an extra amount of Universal Credit called a ‘carer element’ if you’re eligible for Carer’s Allowance – even if you don’t apply for Carer’s Allowance. You can get an extra amount called a ‘Carers’ Premium’ or ‘Carers’ Addition’ added to any of the following benefits if you get Carer’s Allowance:
- Pension Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Support
You can’t usually claim and be paid Carer’s Allowance if you’re already claiming State Pension or income-replacement benefits such as contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance or contribution- based Jobseeker’s Allowance. The exception is if these benefits pay you less than £76.75 a week, in which case Carer’s Allowance can top up your income to this amount. These benefits tend to pay more than Carer’s Allowance so this rarely applies.
However, it’s still worth making a claim for Carer’s Allowance if you’re receiving these benefits.
This is because you may be entitled to what’s called an ‘underlying entitlement’. This means you meet the qualifying conditions for Carer’s Allowance but can’t be paid it because of another benefit you receive.
You will be sent a letter evidencing your underlying entitlement to the benefit, which can be useful to help prove your caring role if needed. It would also mean that any means-tested benefit you’re already receiving could be increased, or you could become entitled to a means-tested benefit for the first time.
You’ll automatically get National Insurance credits for each week you receive Carer’s Allowance. For each week that you receive Carer’s Allowance, you automatically get a Class 1 NI credit to help protect your record. These class 1 credits can help meet the conditions for a number of benefits: new-style Jobseeker’s Allowance, new-style Employment and Support Allowance, Maternity Allowance, and some bereavement benefits as well as the State Pension.
You may also be able to apply for:
- support from your local council
- a Council Tax Reduction
- Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or out of work
- Pension Credit if you’re over working age
- grants and bursaries to help pay for courses and training
Importantly your National Insurance record will help to build your entitlement to certain state benefits, such as the State Pension and Maternity Allowance. Carer’s Allowance counts towards your National Insurance record.
Carer’s Allowance will not reduce or stop certain disability benefits (such as PIP, Attendance Allowance, DLA) the person you care for is receiving. However it can sometimes affect any means-tested benefits they get.
If the person you care for receives a “severe disability premium” paid with any of their means-tested benefits (such as income-related ESA or an extra amount for severe disability paid with Pension Credit), this will stop when you claim Carer’s Allowance.
These severe disability amounts can also affect the amount of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support/Reduction a person may get so if you have any doubts, it is a good idea to arrange a benefit check.
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