Carers benefits

As a carer, you may be entitled to one or more state benefits to help you with the costs.

Carer's Allowance

A Carer's Allowance is the main state benefit for carers. It's £64.60 a week. You can get this if you look after someone for more than 35 hours a week.

If you get more than £64.60 a week from some other benefits, you will not be able to get the Carer's Allowance. But it's still worth applying as you may have what's called an underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance. This can help increase other benefits you're getting.

Claim for a Carer's Allowance

Carer's Credit

Carer's Credit is a National Insurance (NI) contribution to help make sure you don't lose out on some social security benefits, such as the State Pension, because of gaps in your NI record.

You can get this credit if you look after someone for more than 20 hours a week and you don't get Carer's Allowance.

Claim Carer's Credit

Carer Premium

Carer's Premium is an allowance you get on top of some benefits. So if you already
get benefits, such as Income Support or Housing Benefit.

Claim for a Carer Premium

Ask about it at your local Jobcentre Plus.

Disability Living Allowance for children

If you are the parent or carer of a disabled child you can get a disability living allowance. You can get between £22.65 and £145.35 a week.

Claim Disability Living Allowance for children

Check what benefits you can get

Check if you're entitled to the Carer's Allowance and other benefits by using the benefits calculator.

Use the entitled to benefits calculator

Get a carer's assessment

As a carer, you may be eligible for support from your local council. Before you receive any help from your local council, you need to have a carer's assessment.

Find how to get a carer's assessment

Get help and advice

Get expert benefits advice, plus help filling in claim forms, from: