Carer's Allowance

Eligibility

To claim Carer's Allowance you must:

• Spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone
• Be aged 16 or over
• Not be in full-time education (21 hours or more per week)
• Have net earnings of £151 or less per week after allowable deductions
• The person you care for must receive one of these qualifying benefits:
  • Attendance Allowance (either rate)
  • PIP — Daily Living component (either rate)
  • DLA — Care component at the middle or highest rate
  • Constant Attendance Allowance (certain industrial injury claims)
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment

You do not have to be related to or live with the person you care for.

The Earnings Rule

The earnings threshold in 2025/26 is £151 per week net. This is calculated after deductions for:

• Income tax
• National Insurance contributions
• Half of any pension contributions
• Allowable work expenses (e.g., childcare costs that allow you to work)

If your net earnings exceed £151 in any given week, you are not entitled to Carer's Allowance for that week. This is a weekly, not monthly, calculation — so variable earnings can mean your entitlement fluctuates week to week.

Self-employed carers should seek advice from a welfare rights adviser to ensure earnings are calculated correctly.

Underlying Entitlement

If you already receive a state benefit (such as State Pension, Contributory ESA or bereavement benefits) at the same rate or higher than Carer's Allowance, you cannot receive Carer's Allowance on top of it due to the "overlapping benefit" rule.

However, you can still establish "underlying entitlement" to Carer's Allowance, which can:

• Add a Carer Premium of £45.60/week to means-tested benefits (Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Income-based JSA/ESA)
• Potentially unlock a Carer Addition in Pension Credit
• Protect National Insurance contribution credits

Claiming Carer's Allowance is always worth doing even if you won't receive any payment, because of these additional benefits it can unlock.

Effect on the Person You Care For

Organisations offering free welfare benefits advice include Citizens Advice, Age UK, Scope, Carers UK, and local welfare rights services.

How to Claim

You can claim Carer's Allowance:

• Online at GOV.UK — search "Carer's Allowance" and use the online form. This is the quickest route.
• By post — download and complete form DS700 (or DS700SP if you receive State Pension)
• By phone — call the Carer's Allowance Unit on 0800 169 0310 (free, Mon–Fri 8am–6pm)

You can backdate your claim by up to 3 months. If your claim is late and you've lost entitlement, you may be able to apply for Official Error payment if a DWP mistake contributed.

What Else You Can Claim

Claiming Carer's Allowance can open up other support:

• Carer's Credit — National Insurance contribution credits to protect your State Pension if you're not earning. Apply separately from Carer's Allowance if you do not claim CA.
• Carer Premium — addition to Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or legacy means-tested benefits
• Carer's Assessment — right to a free assessment from your local council. Can lead to respite care, Direct Payments or other support. See our carer burnout guide.
• Council Tax discount — some councils offer a council tax discount if you care for a severely disabled person