If you look after a disabled person and you are unable to work or have a low income; then you may be able to claim Carer's Allowance. To qualify you need to be:
- caring for a child for over 35 hours a week and you must be aged over 16.
- Your child/ren must be getting the DLA Personal Care component at the middle or high rate.
- You must also be earning less than £100 per week after allowable deductions have been made (e.g tax, national insurance and certain childcare costs.
- If you are a student then course must not be defined as full time.
Carer's Allowance is paid weekly at £58.45.
You usually cannot be paid Carer's Allowance at the same time as Incapacity Benefit, contributory Employment and Support Allowance, Maternity Allowance, bereavement benefits, contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance and State Retirement Pension.
However, making a claim for Carer's Allowance could still be help if you cannot be paid because you already get one of the above. This is because it can help you qualify for extra payments as part of certain means tested benefits such as Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Housing Benefits and Council Tax Benefit.
To claim Carer's Allowance you can get a form from the Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 882 200.
