Carer's Allowance

Carer’s Allowance

Website:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOth...

Can I get Carer's Allowance?

You may be able to get Carer's Allowance if you:
a) are aged 16 or over
b) spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a person
They should be getting one of the following benefits:
1) Attendance Allowance
2) Disability Living Allowance (at the middle or highest rate for personal care)
3) Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
4) Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension

However, you can't get Carer's Allowance if:
i) you're in full-time education with 21 hours or more a week of supervised study - or doing a course described as full-time by the college or establishment providing it
ii) you earn more than £100 a week after certain deductions (like Income Tax) have been made

Carer's Allowance - eligibility
You may be eligible for Carer's Allowance if you are aged 16 or over and you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who is ill or disabled.

Who can get Carer's Allowance

You need to be caring for somebody who is getting one of the following benefits:
Attendance Allowance
* Disability Living Allowance at the middle or highest rate for personal care
* Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, or basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension

If someone else is also looking after the same person, only one of you can get Carer's Allowance.
Carer’s Allowance can only be paid for caring for one person.
Carer's Allowance can be claimed by more than one person in a household, such as a couple caring for each other.
Carer's Allowance is not affected by any savings you may have.
If you have come from, or live, abroad
To be eligible, the following must apply:
- you must have been present in the UK or the Isle of Man for at least 26 weeks in the 12 months prior to your date of claim
- you must be in the UK when you make your claim
- you are not subject to immigration control
Certain people can be treated as being present in the UK. For example, if you are a member of the Armed Forces, or living with a member of the Armed Forces, and you are based abroad, you are regarded as living in the UK.
If you leave the UK to live elsewhere in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, your Carer's Allowance may continue to be paid to you under certain conditions.
Under certain conditions you may also be able to make a claim for Carer's Allowance if you already live in another EEA country or Switzerland.

How much do you get?

The weekly rate is £58.45. This is reduced by the amount of certain other benefits, including State Pension that you get.

If you receive certain other benefits at £58.45 or more a week, you won't get Carer's Allowance as well.

How to claim Carer's Allowance

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