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Carer's Allowance (CA) is a benefit paid to people who care for someone who is severely disabled. You may have to pay tax on it.
What is Carer's Allowance?
• Paid to full-time carers
• Your other benefits may increase or decrease
• Certain benefits for the person you look after may sometimes reduce
Can you apply?
• If you are aged 16 or over
and
• spending at least 35 hours a week looking after someone who
is getting or waiting to hear about these benefits:
- Attendance Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance at the middle or highest rate for personal
care
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Constant Attendance Allowance
- War Pensions Constant Attendance Allowance
Then you should claim CA. You can apply for CA here
How much is it?
Weekly amount: £50.55
Other information
You cannot get CA if you are in full-time education.
You cannot get CA if you earn above a certain amount. We will not count money you pay out for things like:
• some National Insurance (NI) contributions
• income tax
• half of any money you pay towards a personal or occupational pension
• paying someone who is not a close relative to look after the disabled
person while you are at work (up to a certain limit)
• paying someone who is not a close relative to look after children
aged under 16 while you are at work (up to a certain limit)
• some other expenses
You may be able to get extra money for your family.
CA may carry on when you become 65 if your Retirement Pension is less than CA.
You may be able to get extra money added to Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
If the person you are caring for gets Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, they may lose their severe disability premium. Check with the person whether they are getting either of these benefits.
If you have a short break from looking after the person you care for, your CA may be able to continue.
You will earn extra pension through State Second Pension for every complete tax year you are entitled to CA.
CA after the death of the disabled person
If the disabled person dies, CA will continue for up to a further 8 weeks. This will help ex-carers who have recently been bereaved by giving them time to adjust and make plans for their own future.
Help for Carers
For more information you can contact Jobcentre Plus. Find your local
office here
What is it?
You may be able to get help with things like adapting a home for a disabled
person, respite care or other support.
To find out whether you are eligible, contact your social services department,
or in Scotland, social work department.
Or you can contact the Carers National Association by calling Freephone:
0808 808 7777 Monday to Friday 10.00am to noon and 2.00pm to 4.00pm.
The address is:
Carers National Association
20-25 Glasshouse Yard
London EC1A 4JS