Benefits for carers

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General information about benefits for carers

The government provides a variety of benefits for both you and the person you care for and you should not be reluctant to claim them.

The information on this site is not advice about benefits. It can only give you an indication of the benefits that might be available. It cannot tell you everything that is applicable to your situation. if you think these is any possibility that you are not getting all the benefits to which you are entitled, we would urge you to get expert advice. This could be from Citizens Advice, a specialist welaft rights service or your local Department of Work and Pensions.

The main benefits for carers are:

Carers' Allowance

(previously Invalid Carers Allowance)
Paid to people who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone

Carer Premium

You may be able to get the Carer Premium wich is extra money added to Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. You may be able to claim this if you claimed Carers Allowance but cannot get it because you already have another benefit paid at the same or higher amount. A claimant is entitled to the carer's premium if s/he or her/his partner is entitled to carer's allowance. Check with your local Benefits office or Jobcentre Plus office.

The main benefits for people being cared for are:

Attendance Allowance

Paid if you need help to look after yourself if you are aged 65+

Disability Living Allowance

Paid if you need help looking after yourself before you reach the age of 65

Disability Living Allowance for Children under 16

Paid for a child if they need more help or looking after than other children of the same age because of illness or disability

Incapacity Benefit

Paid if you are incapable of work because of sickness or disability

Find out more

• Age Concern information, advice and fact sheets
• Bereavement making a will, inheritance tax and government asssistance such as Funeral Payments and Bereavement Payments from·DirectGov
• Carers UK benefit advice for carers
• Department of Work and Pensions website
• Enduring Power of Attorney to help others to manage their financial affairs and property when they are unable to undertake this themselves·DirectGov
• Help the Aged benefits information
• Princess Royal Trust for Carers benefits advice
• State pensions for carers and parents·Department of Work and Pensions website
• Benefit Enquiry Line 0800 88 22 00

Last updated: 5 May 2010