What is Carer's Allowance?

What Carer's Allowance is

Carer's Allowance is the main benefit for unpaid carers. It is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to people who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who gets a disability benefit.

Who it is for

You must:

• be 16 or over
• care for the person for at least 35 hours a week
• earn £204 a week or less after tax, National Insurance and expenses
• not be in full-time education, or studying 21 hours a week or more
• normally live in England or Wales, and have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years

The person you care for must get one of these:

• Personal Independence Payment (daily living part)
• Disability Living Allowance (middle or highest care rate)
• Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment
• Adult Disability Payment (daily living part) or Child Disability Payment (middle or highest care rate)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment, or Constant Attendance Allowance at certain rates

How much you get in 2026/27

In 2025/26 it was £83.30 a week. You can be paid weekly in advance or every 4 weeks. You do not get more if you care for two people, and only one person can claim for the same person.

When working out the £204 earnings limit, some costs can be taken off your pay, such as some pension contributions, work equipment, travel, and childcare up to half of your earnings.

How it affects other benefits

Carer's Allowance can change other payments, so check before you claim.

• The person you care for may lose the severe disability extra paid with their benefits or Pension Credit.
• Universal Credit: your Carer's Allowance is taken off your Universal Credit pound for pound, but you may get the carer element instead.
• Pension Credit: your payments can go up.
• State Pension: you may get less Carer's Allowance if you get the State Pension or certain other benefits. If you put off (defer) your State Pension, you cannot build up extra State Pension while you get Carer's Allowance.

Overall, GOV.UK says total payments usually go up or stay the same.

Things to know

• You get National Insurance credits automatically for each week you get it.
• It is taxable if your total income is over the Personal Allowance.
• You can backdate your claim by up to 3 months.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

• Wales: the same Carer's Allowance rules apply as in England.
• Scotland: apply for Carer Support Payment from Social Security Scotland. It is up to £86.45 a week.
• Northern Ireland: Carer's Allowance is run by the Department for Communities at the same rate and earnings limit. Call 0800 587 0912 or apply on nidirect.

Related guides

• Can I get Carer's Allowance?
• How do I apply for Carer's Allowance?
• What is Carer's Credit?
• What should I do about a Carer's Allowance overpayment?
• What is the Universal Credit carer element?

Where these figures come from

• Carer's Allowance (GOV.UK)
• Carer's Allowance: eligibility (GOV.UK)
• Carer's Allowance: effect on other benefits (GOV.UK)
• Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (DWP)
• Carer Support Payment (mygov.scot)
• Carer's Allowance (nidirect)