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Who can get Carer's Allowance?

You may be able to get Carer's Allowance if you are aged 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a person who gets either:

• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance at the middle or highest rate for care
• 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

Who cannot get Carer's Allowance?

You cannot get Carer's Allowance if you are in full-time education with 21 hours or more a week of supervised study or earn more than £100 a week after certain deductions have been made - for example Income Tax.

• Carer's Allowance - eligibility

How much do you get?

The weekly rate is £53.90. This is reduced by the amount of certain other benefits, including State Pension, that you receive. If you receive certain other benefits at £53.90 or more a week, Carer's Allowance cannot be paid to you as well.

You may have to pay tax on the amount you receive.

How it is paid

Carer's Allowance is normally paid directly into any account of your choice which accepts Direct Payment of benefits.  This might be a bank, building society or other account provider.

You may be able to get someone else to collect your Carer's Allowance if you wish. For help with this, contact your bank, building society or other account provider.

If you would like more information about how you can be paid by other means, contact the Carer's Allowance Unit.

If your payment is due on a bank holiday it will get paid to you early, usually on the first working day before your normal payday.

• Carer's Allowance Unit

Effect on other benefits and entitlements

Claiming Carer's Allowance may affect any other benefits, allowances, pensions and entitlements you, or the person you care for, are receiving.  

• Carer's Allowance - effect on other benefits and entitlements

How to claim

You can ask for a claim form over the telephone, by contacting the Carer's Allowance Unit or your local Jobcentre Plus office or downloading the form from this website. You can also claim online.

• Carer's Allowance - how to claim

• Carer's Allowance e-service Opens new window

Changes in circumstances for you or the person you are caring for

Changes to your circumstances - and those of the person you care for - can affect your eligibility for Carer's Allowance, or the amount you get. For example, changes to your income or employment, if you go into full-time education or take a break from caring.

• Carer's Allowance - changes in circumstances

Making a complaint about the Disability and Carers Service

The Disability and Carers Service is part of the Department for Work and Pensions and provides financial help to disabled people and carers. It deals with claims for Carer's Allowance as well as several disability benefits.

If you are unhappy with the service the Disability and Carers Service has provided, you can make a complaint.

• Making a complaint about the Disability and Carers Service (disabled people section)

Useful contacts

• Organisations and charities for carers