What is the Universal Credit carer element?

For unpaid carers who claim, or want to claim, Universal Credit.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

The carer element is an extra £209.34 a month in your Universal Credit if you care for a disabled person for at least 35 hours a week (2026/27).

The person you care for must get a qualifying disability benefit, such as PIP daily living, the middle or highest DLA care rate, or Attendance Allowance.
You cannot get it as well as the health amount (LCWRA).
If you also get Carer's Allowance, it is taken off your Universal Credit pound for pound.
Carers on Universal Credit are not affected by the benefit cap.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

£209.34 a month (2026/27)
Care at least 35 hours a week
Cared-for person needs disability benefit
Not paid with the LCWRA amount

How much it is

Year	Per month	Per year
2026/27	£209.34	£2,512.08
2025/26	£201.68	£2,420.16

It is added to your Universal Credit on top of your standard allowance. It is not paid as a separate benefit.

Who it is for

You can get the carer element if you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and they get one of these:

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) daily living part, at either rate
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) care part, at the middle or highest rate
Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance
Armed Forces Independence Payment
Adult Disability Payment (Scotland), standard or enhanced award
Child Disability Payment (Scotland), middle or highest care award

What stops you getting it

If you already get the Universal Credit health amount for limited capability for work and work-related activity, you cannot also get the carer element.

How it works with Carer's Allowance

You can claim Carer's Allowance as well. But Carer's Allowance counts as income for Universal Credit. It is taken off your Universal Credit pound for pound.

So getting Carer's Allowance on top may not make your monthly income higher overall.

Worked example

Leah is 40, single and cares for her mother for 40 hours a week. Her mother gets the PIP daily living part. Leah has no earnings and no housing costs in her claim.

Standard allowance: £424.90
Carer element: £209.34
Total Universal Credit: £634.24 a month

Other things carers should know

No job search. If you care for 35 hours or more a week for someone on a disability benefit, you will not have to look for work.
Benefit cap. You are not affected by the benefit cap if you get Universal Credit as a carer.
Tell Universal Credit. Starting to care for someone is a change you must report in your online account.

If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Scotland: Carer Support Payment is the Scottish version of Carer's Allowance, at up to £86.45 a week. Your Universal Credit is reduced because of it, in the same way as Carer's Allowance. Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment both count as qualifying benefits for the carer element.
Wales: the same rules as England.
Northern Ireland: Universal Credit is run by the Department for Communities. Check nidirect.

Related guides

Where these figures come from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Report a change

Common questions

Do I need Carer's Allowance to get the carer element?

No. The carer element is part of Universal Credit. You may also be eligible for Carer's Allowance, but that is taken off your Universal Credit.

Will I have to look for work if I get the carer element?

If you care for someone for 35 hours or more a week who gets a disability benefit, you will not have work-related requirements.

Official sources

1.Universal Credit: what you'll get (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/universal-credit/what-youll-get
2.Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (DWP)www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-and-pension-rates-2026-to-2027/proposed-benefit-and-pension-rates-2026-to-2027
3.The Universal Credit Regulations 2013, regulation 66: unearned incomewww.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/376/regulation/66
4.Benefit cap: when you're not affected (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/benefit-cap/when-youre-not-affected
5.Universal Credit and your claimant commitment (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-your-claimant-commitment-quick-guide/universal-credit-and-your-claimant-commitment

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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