Carer's Allowance

Who can get Carer's Allowance?

Not every carer is eligible for Carer's Allowance. This is because there are certain rules which apply to the carer, and the the person being cared for. The rules include the following.

Regarding the carer

It does not matter if you (the carer) are related to the ill or disabled person, or whether you live in the same household. For example, you could care for a relative who lives with you. Or, for example, you could care for a friend or neighbour who lives in a different home from you. However:

• You must be aged over 16.
• You must be spending at least 35 hours a week looking after the ill or disabled person. You do not need to care for the person every day - just for 35 hours or more per week.
• You cannot earn over a certain amount from other work (after allowable expenses and deductions such as income tax). This amount at April 2007 is £87 (but the figure is revised each April). However, to be eligible for Carer's Allowance your savings are not taken into account and it does not depend on whether you have paid any National Insurance contributions.
• You cannot get Carer's Allowance if you are on a course of full-time education. This means 21 hours a week or more of supervised study.

Regarding the person you care for

The person you are caring for must be receiving one of the following benefits which are paid to them because they need care:

• Attendance Allowance. OR
• The Care Component of Disability Living Allowance, paid at the middle or higher rate. OR
• Constant Attendance Allowance with:
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (at or above the normal maximum rate). OR
  • War Disablement Pension (at the basic full day rate or above).

If the person you care for is not receiving one of the above benefits, and you are spending a lot of time caring for them, then they are likely to be entitled to one of these benefits and they should claim. This will give them extra money and also enable you to claim Carer's Allowance.

But note: certain benefits for the person you care for can reduce if you get Carer's Allowance. For example, if the person you care for gets Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, they may lose the Severe Disability Premium if that is included in their benefit.

How much is Carer's Allowance?

The standard rate of Carer's Allowance from April 2007 is £48.65 a week (The rate usually increases each April.) Payment is usually made directly into a bank account, building society account, post office account, or national savings account. However, it can be complicated as various factors can affect whether you get this standard rate, or whether you can get more or less. For example:

• Carer's Allowance is a taxable benefit.
• You may not be able to claim Carer's Allowance in full if you are already receiving certain other benefits at certain rates. These are called overlapping benefits. For example, State Retirement Pension.
• Also, as mentioned, the person cared for may have a reduction in certain benefits if you receive Carer's Allowance.

However:

• You may get more money if you receive certain other benefits such as Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
• You may be able to receive extra payments for a partner or dependent children, subject to certain conditions. (For example, depending if they have an income or benefits above a certain level.)

Because of the complicated rules it may not be easy to work out if you are entitled to Carer's Allowance, and if you are, how it may affect your other benefits. Therefore, if you are considering claiming, it is best to take expert advice. (See below for sources of advice.)

You will normally get a National Insurance (NI) contribution added to your NI record for each week you get Carer's Allowance.

How can I claim Carer's Allowance

You, or someone on your behalf, needs to complete a claim form. To get a claim form:

• telephone the Benefit Enquiry Line (details below) to request a form, OR
• go to the website of DIrect.gov (details below), a government site where you can download a claim form, OR
• ask the Carer's Allowance Unit (details below) to send you a form, OR
• get a form from your local Jobcentre Plus office or local social security office, OR
• if you live in Northern Ireland, you can go to the website of the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland (details below) which has a claim form online.

What if circumstances change?

You should report any changes in your circumstances, or the circumstances of the person you are caring for, or the circumstances of a dependent adult. This can affect whether you will still get Carer's Allowance, or if the amount should change. For example, report any changes to your income, benefits, employment status, if you go into full time education, if the cared for person goes into hospital or residential home, etc.

For example, if the person you care for goes into a residential home, then the benefit is stopped. But it is not stopped if the person has a short admission into hospital. Another example is that you can take up to four weeks' holiday away from the person that you care for in every 26 week period without affecting the benefit payments.

If the person you care for dies, you will still receive Carer's Allowance for a further eight weeks before it is stopped. This is to give you some time to adjust and to make plans for the future.

Further information, help and advice

Benefit Enquiry Line - BEL

England, Wales and Scotland - Tel: 0800 88 22 00 Textphone: 0800 24 33 55
Northern Ireland - Tel: 0800 220 674 Textphone: 0800 243 787
For people with disabilities, their carers and representatives. BEL offers advice and information on benefits and how to claim them, and help you to complete a claim form over the phone.

Carer's Allowance Unit

This is a section of the Department for Work and Pensions
Palatine House, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 1HB
Tel: 01253 856 123 Textphone: 01772 899 489

Directgov

Web: www.direct.gov.uk
Directgov brings together the widest range of public service information and services online.
Provides information from across UK government departments on topics ranging from travel safety and parental leave, to special educational needs, local NHS services, and benefits. The site also brings together an increasing number of online government services - including being able to download and/or complete certain benefit claim forms online.

Disability and Carers Service

Part of the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland
For people living in Northern Ireland
Telephone:

• Disability Living Allowance: 028 9090 6182
• Attendance Allowance: 028 9090 6178
• Carers Allowance: 028 9090 6186

Textphone: 0800 243 787
Web: www.dsdni.gov.uk

Citizens Advice Bureau

Provides independent advice on many issues including benefits. Listed in the phone book under 'Citizens Advice Bureaux'. Also, see their excellent website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk

Carers UK

Ruth Pitter House, 20-25 Glasshouse Yard, London, EC1A 4JT
Tel (CarersLine): 0808 808 7777 Web: www.carersuk.org
Carers UK (formerly the Carers National Association) aims to help anyone who is caring for a sick, disabled or elderly, frail friend or relative at home. Among other things, Carers UK provides an information and advice service for carers.

Department for Work and Pensions

Their website provides a list of claim forms that you can download or fill in online for benefits, allowances, pensions and other payments - www.dwp.gov.uk/resourcecentre/claim_forms.asp