Carers allowance

This benefit is available to carers who meet the necessary conditions.

Eligibility criteria for carers to get this type of finincial help includes:

  • Those spending at least 35 hours a week
  • Looking after someone who gets Disability Living Allowance at the middle or highest care component rate

There is a limit on what the carer is allowed to earn if they receive this benefit – in 2005-2006 Carers Allowance was £45.70 per week and the earnings limit £82.

Carers Allowance can’t be paid in addition to Retirement pension - the carer normally gets whichever is the higher amount. But receiving Carers Allowance entitles the carer to a ‘carer’s premium’ when calculating Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.

This means that carers will get an increased amount of benefit if they are already entitled to it or they might become entitled to one or more of these benefits for the first time. But it’s important to remember that if a carer is paid this allowance the service user’s benefit may be reduced as a result.