How do I apply for Carer's Allowance?

Check you can claim first

Before you apply, make sure:

• you are 16 or over and care for someone for at least 35 hours a week
• the person you care for gets a qualifying benefit, such as the daily living part of PIP, Attendance Allowance, or the middle or highest care rate of DLA
• you earn £204 a week or less after tax, National Insurance and expenses
• you are not in full-time education or studying 21 hours a week or more

Carer's Allowance is £86.45 a week in 2026/27. It can affect the benefits of the person you care for, such as the severe disability extra amount, so talk to them before you claim.

What you need

About you:

• your National Insurance number (and your partner's, if you have one)
• your bank or building society details
• your employment details and latest payslip, if you work
• your P45, if you have stopped work recently
• course details, if you are studying
• details of any expenses, such as pension contributions or care costs you pay while you work

About the person you care for:

• their date of birth and address
• their National Insurance number, if they are 16 or over
• their Disability Living Allowance reference number, if they are under 16

Step by step

1. Gather your details from the lists above.
2. Apply online through the Carer's Allowance service on GOV.UK. This is the main way to apply.
3. If you cannot apply online, print and fill in the Carer's Allowance claim form and post it to the address on the form.
4. If you need help, call the Carer's Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). Relay UK users dial 18001 then 0800 731 0297. A British Sign Language video relay service is also available.
5. Tell the person you care for that you have claimed, so they can expect any change to their own benefits.

Time and cost

Applying is free. You can backdate your claim by up to 3 months, so you may get some money for the time before you applied if you were eligible then. Once paid, you can choose to get it weekly in advance or every 4 weeks.

After you apply

DWP looks at your claim and tells you the decision. If you are awarded it, you also get National Insurance credits automatically.

Tell the Carer's Allowance Unit if your circumstances change, for example if your earnings go over £204 a week.

If you disagree with the decision, ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month of the decision date.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

• Wales: apply in the same way as in England.
• Scotland: you cannot get Carer's Allowance. Apply for Carer Support Payment from Social Security Scotland through mygov.scot. It is up to £86.45 a week.
• Northern Ireland: apply online on nidirect, call 0800 587 0912, or use form DS700 (or DS700(SP) if you are over State Pension age).

Related guides

• Can I get Carer's Allowance?
• What is Carer's Allowance?
• What should I do about a Carer's Allowance overpayment?
• What is the Universal Credit carer element?
• What is Carer Support Payment in Scotland?

Where this comes from

• Carer's Allowance: how to claim (GOV.UK)
• Carer's Allowance: eligibility (GOV.UK)
• Carer's Allowance: what you'll get (GOV.UK)
• Carer's Allowance: effect on other benefits (GOV.UK)
• Challenge a benefit decision (GOV.UK)
• Carer Support Payment (mygov.scot)
• Carer's Allowance (nidirect)