You could get £62.70 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.
You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
You won’t be paid extra if you care for more than one person.
Carer’s Allowance can affect the other benefits that you and the person you care for get. You have to pay tax on it if your income is over the Personal Allowance.
Eligibility
The person you care for must already get one of these benefits:
> Personal Independence Payment - daily living component
> Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate
> Attendance Allowance
> Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
> Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
> Armed Forces Independence Payment
You might be able to get Carer’s Allowance if all of the following apply:
> you’re 16 or over
> you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone
> have been in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years
> you normally live in England, Scotland or Wales, or you live abroad as a member of the armed forces
> you’re not in full-time education
> you’re not studying for 21 hours a week or more
> you earn no more than £110 a week (after taxes, care costs while you’re at work and 50% of what you pay into your pension) - don’t count your pension as income
> you’re not subject to immigration control
Effect on other benefits
Carer’s Allowance can affect the other benefits that both you and the person you care for get.
Make a claim
To make a claim you will need:
> your National Insurance number
> the date of birth and address of the person you’re caring for
> your bank or building society details
You may need to provide course details if you are studying, and any employment details including dates and how much you were paid.
You can backdate your claim by up to 3 months.