If you’re aged 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who is ill or has a disability, you may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance.

Eligibility

To get Carer’s Allowance there are certain criteria you and the person you care for must meet. The person you care for must get one of the following benefits:

• Personal Independence Payment - daily living part
• Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest rate for personal care
• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance  - at no less than the full day rate
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Child Disability Payment – the middle or highest care rate (this benefit is only available in Scotland)

Your eligibility

You must earn no more than £139 a week after the following expenses have been taken off:

• some of your National Insurance contributions
• Income Tax
• half of any money you pay towards personal or occupational pension schemes
• other expenses you must pay as part of your job, for example, equipment

You are allowed up to half of the rest of your earnings to pay someone, except a close relative, to look after children or the person you care for, while you are at work.

You must also:

• be aged over 16
• spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who is ill or has a disability
• have lived in Northern Ireland for at least two of the last three years before your claim
• live permanently in Northern Ireland, or live abroad as a member of the armed forces or with someone in the armed forces
• be living (or treated as living) in Northern Ireland when you claim
• not be under immigration control
• not be in full time education (21 hours or more a week)

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you and your family usually also need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get Carers Allowance. The deadline to apply to the scheme was 30 June 2021 for most people, but you might still be able to apply. 

How much you’ll get

The weekly rate is £76.75 but you’ll get less if you get certain benefits or State Pension. Your savings don't affect how much you get.

How you’re paid

Carer's Allowance is paid into your bank or building society account. For information on other ways you can be paid, contact the Disability and Carers Service. You can choose to be paid weekly in advance or every four weeks.

Effect on other benefits

Carer's Allowance can affect other benefits that you, or the person you care for, receive.

Your benefits

Carer's Allowance is taken into account when calculating certain benefits and Pension Credit.

If you get State Pension or certain benefits paid at a rate that is the same or more than Carer's Allowance, you may not receive payment of Carer's Allowance but may have 'underlying entitlement' to it.

If you receive Carer's Allowance or have an underlying entitlement to it, you will qualify for the ‘carer premium’ in any of the following benefits you get:

• Income Support
• Employment and Support Allowance (income related)
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Rate Relief

Benefits of the person you care for

When you receive Carer's Allowance, the person you care for may stop getting:

• the severe disability premium in their income-related benefit
• the extra amount for severe disability in their Pension Credit

If you have an underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance and are not actually paid it, this will not affect the benefits of the person you care for.

How to claim

To claim Carer’s Allowance, apply online. If you can’t apply online, you can download an application form below or ask the Disability and Carers Service to send you one.