Carer's Allowance
If you spend a lot of your week looking after someone, you might be able to get Carer's Allowance. It's £86.45 a week (2026 to 2027 rate), and you don't have to be related to them or live with them.
Who can get it
All of these need to apply:
- you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week, which can include help with washing and cooking, taking them to appointments, and help with bills and shopping
- they already get a qualifying benefit, such as Attendance Allowance, the daily living part of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or the middle or highest care rate of Disability Living Allowance
- you're 16 or over, and not in full-time education or studying for 21 hours a week or more
- you earn £204 a week or less, after tax, National Insurance and expenses (2026 to 2027 limit)
If the person you look after doesn't get one of those benefits yet, help them claim it first. For many older people, that's Attendance Allowance.
Only one person can claim for the same person, and you don't get extra for caring for more than one person.
Things to check before you claim
Carer's Allowance can affect other benefits, both yours and theirs:
- The person you look after will usually stop getting any severe disability premium, or the extra amount for severe disability in their Pension Credit. They might also lose a reduction on their Council Tax.
- If you get Universal Credit, it's reduced by the same amount, though you may get an extra amount for caring instead.
- If you already get a State Pension, you may get less Carer's Allowance or none, but being eligible can still increase Pension Credit.
A benefits calculator on GOV.UK can show you the overall effect. Your total benefits will usually go up or stay the same.
For each week you get Carer's Allowance, you also get National Insurance credits, which count towards your State Pension.
How to claim
Apply online on GOV.UK. You can backdate a claim by up to 3 months. If you can't apply online, call the Carer's Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) to ask for a form.
You'll need your National Insurance number and bank details, and the date of birth, address and National Insurance number of the person you care for.
If you disagree with the decision, you can ask for it to be looked at again. This is called a mandatory reconsideration. The charities Carers UK and Carers Trust, and Citizens Advice, give free, independent help.
In Scotland
Carer's Allowance has been replaced by Carer Support Payment, from Social Security Scotland. It's up to £86.45 a week. Carers also get a Scottish Carer Supplement of £11.70 a week on top, and £10.40 a week for each additional person they care for who gets a qualifying benefit. Find out more and apply on mygov.scot.
In Wales
Carer's Allowance works the same way in Wales as in England.