You may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance (CA) if:

• you spend at least 35 hours a week looking after a disabled person;
• the disabled person you look after gets middle-rate or highest-rate DLA care component, AA (at both rates), or Constant Attendance Allowance (of £54.80 or more, paid with War Disablement Pension and Industrial Injuries Benefit); 
• you work, but earn no more than £95 a week once allowable expenses are deducted; and
• you pass the UK residence and presence tests, and you are not subject to immigration control.

Getting CA affects other benefits in a complex way. If you qualify for CA it can increase your entitlement to Pension Credit and other means-tested benefits. But it is important to know that in some cases it can make the person you care for financially worse off. Check with SeniorLine or your local Citizens Advice Bureau to see whether this applies to your situation before you make a claim.

CA is £50.55 a week and is taxable. If you are under pension age and get CA you will also get a National Insurance credit each week. This can help you qualify for a pension at retirement age.

Carer’s Allowance is one of a group of income replacement benefits, which can’t usually be paid at the same time. These benefits include State Retirement Pension, contribution-based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA), Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance or Widow’s and Bereavement Benefits. This is known as the overlapping benefits rule. So, for example, if you are getting your State Retirement Pension you may find that you will not get paid CA even if you meet all the requirements. But if you get a reduced pension (that is, less than £50.55), and qualify for CA, you should get some CA to ‘top up’ your pension to £50.55. This does not apply to DLA or AA; you can claim either of these benefits at the same time as claiming CA.

If you meet the requirements for CA, but don’t get it because you are getting a benefit which it cannot be paid with, it may still be worth making a claim. This is because the DWP will acknowledge that you have an ‘underlying right’ to it. This means you may get more money as part of your Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit (rate rebate in Northern Ireland) or Pension Credit. This is because you will get an additional amount of £27.75 when these benefits are worked out.

For more information on CA see our information sheet no. 5, Welfare Benefits for Older Carers, or get advice from SeniorLine or a Citizens Advice Bureau.

How to claim: you need to ask for form DS700 or DS700 (SP) if you get a State Retirement Pension. Contact your local benefits office or the Carer’s Allowance Unit on 01253 856123 (in Northern Ireland call the Disability and Carer’s Service on 028 9090 6186). You can also download a copy of the claim form from Directgov, by visiting its website at www.direct.gov.uk 

You can also call the Benefit Enquiry Line for a claim pack. If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, call 0800 88 22 00. If you live in Northern Ireland call 0800 22 06 74.