If you’re a carer, there’s financial support out there to help you.

Carer’s Allowance

In 2022–23, Carer’s Allowance is £69.70 a week. You might be able to claim it if you:

• spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone
• are aged 16 or over
• aren’t in full-time education or studying for 21 hours a week or more
• earn £132 (2022–2023) a week or less (after tax, National Insurance and expenses).

That’s £6,864 a year. The person you’re caring for must also be getting a benefit because of their illness or disability. For example:

• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (the middle or higher rate of the care component)
• Personal Independence Payment (either rate of the daily living component)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment.

Carer’s Allowance is taxable. But you’ll only have to pay tax if you have other sources of taxable income. For example, occupational or personal pensions or part-time earnings. And if this combined income takes you over the threshold for paying tax – £12,570 a year in 2022–2023). Carer’s Allowance on its own is currently below this threshold.

How does Carer's Allowance affect other benefits?

Carer’s Allowance can also affect other benefits you might be already getting – so you might be paid less in another benefit. It will count as income if you’re getting Universal Credit. But you might also qualify for extra Universal Credit because you’re a carer.

Carer’s Credit

Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit that fills up gaps in your National Insurance record. It helps towards your State Pension while you’re not making any contributions because of your caring role.

You might be able to get Carer’s Credit if:

• you’re aged 16 or over
• you’re not yet getting State Pension
• you don’t qualify for Carer’s Allowance
• you spend at least 20 hours a week caring for someone
• the person you’re looking after gets a benefit because of their illness or disability. For example:
• Attendance Allowance – the middle or highest rate of the care component
• Disability Living Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – either rate of the daily living component
• Armed Forces Independence Payment.

If the person you’re caring for doesn’t get one of these benefits, you might still be able to claim by completing a ‘Care Certificate’.

Carer Premium

You might be entitled to an additional Carer Premium if you already get:

• Income Support
• Universal Credit – and get the ‘carer element’
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Support – Rate Relief in Northern Ireland
• income-related Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit – and get the ‘carer addition’.

Ask about the Carer Premium at your local Jobcentre Plus or Jobs and Benefits Office. However, if you qualify, the payment will usually be added automatically.

Pension Credit

This is a benefit you can get if you’ve reached State Pension age. It’s designed to top up your income in retirement. It’s made up of two parts:

• Guarantee Credit
• Savings Credit (only available if you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016).

One in three people who are entitled to Pension Credit don’t claim it. If you’re one of them, you’re missing out on hundreds of pounds a year.

If you live with a partner, you’ll only be able to claim Pension Credit if you’ve both reached State Pension age.

Other schemes and entitlements

Motability scheme

If you’re caring for someone with limited mobility, they might be able to get support from the Motability scheme. This can help by providing a car, wheelchair or powered scooter.

Blue badge parking

Blue badge parking permits allow drivers who have passengers with mobility issues to park in more convenient locations, such as disabled parking bays.

You can also park on single or double lines for up to three hours.

Disabled Persons Railcard

The Disabled Persons Railcard entitles the cardholder and a carer or companion one third off most adult rail fares on the National Rail network.

It costs £20 a year, or £54 for a three-year card. You can buy one at any staffed ticket office or apply online. 

For more information on the wide range of benefits available for carers and how to claim them, please click here.