Benefits for Carers

Carer's Allowance is the main state benefit for carers so it's important to find out if you can receive it. Carer's Allowance is currently worth £46.95 a week.

To qualify you need to meet all the rules. Please check each of the rules carefully as they are quite complicated.

	You must be 16 years old or over
	You must look after someone for at least 35 hours a week
	The person you look after must receive a qualifying disability benefit
	If you work you must not earn more than £84
	You must not get one of a list of other benefits
	You must be living in the UK when you claim Carer's Allowance
	You must not be a full-time student

More detailed information on each of the rules is provided by clicking the link below.

You may also be able to get the Carer Premium - an extra amount of money (up to £26.35 a week) included in the calculation of Income Support, income-based Job Seekers' Allowance, Housing Benefit and Rate Rebate. An amount equivalent to the Carer Premium is used to calculate Pension Credit.

If you are awarded Carer's Allowance, find out whether you qualify for the Carer Premium or its Pension Credit equivalent as you may get more money. (This link is to information on www.carersni.org, and opens in anew window)

The Carer Premium is not a benefitin its own right, but an extra amount of money included in the calculation of Income Support, income-based Job seekers' Allowance, Housing Benefit and Rate Rebate. An equivalent amount is used in the calculation of Pension Credit.

You will need to apply for the Carer's Allowance to receive the Carer Premium. You must satisfy all of the rules except the rule concerning receiving specified benefits. You can check whether you are eligible for Carer's Allowance here.

If you apply successfully for Carer's Allowance, and you are on Income Support or income-based Job Seekers' Allowance, you should receive the Carer Premium automatically. If the Carer Premium is not added to your benefit within a couple of weeks of receiving the decision about Carer's Allowance, take the letter awarding benefit application to your local Social Security office and ask for Carer Premium to be paid.

If you get the Carer Premium and already receive Housing Benefit and/or Rate Rebate, tell the office dealing with your benefit(s) that you have been awarded Carer's Allowance or have an underlying entitlement to it. They will recalculate the benefit to take this into account.

This website has been developed and maintained with support from DHSSPS.