Carers Allowance 2024: Eligibility, Rate, and Details
Carers Allowance 2024
The UK Government offers Carer’s Allowance to individuals who care for someone with an illness or disability and receive specific benefits. To qualify, they must provide care for at least 35 hours a week. It’s not necessary for the carer to be a relative or live with the person they care for. Those receiving Carer’s Allowance may need to pay tax on the payment if their income exceeds the personal allowance.
Carers Allowance Eligibility 2024
In order to receive Carer’s Allowance, both the caregiver and the individual receiving care must meet the government’s requirements. If multiple people are providing care for the same person, only one of them can receive Carer’s Allowance.
To be eligible for Carer’s Allowance:
- You must be over 16 years old.
- Throughout the week, give care for at least 35 hours.
- Your earnings should not exceed £139 per week after tax, expenses, and National Insurance.
- You shouldn’t be in full-time education or subject to immigration control.
Your earnings refer to income from employment/self-employment after tax, National Insurance, and expenses. Some payments, like loans from employers or private pensions, are not counted as earnings.
One of the following benefits must be being received by the person you are caring for:
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Adult Disability Payment
- Disability Living Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
Note that these benefits may have additional requirements. For example, recipients of Child Disability Payment must receive the middle/highest care rate.
For complete eligibility requirements, visit the UK Government’s website.
If you care for someone alongside others, you can’t receive Carer’s Allowance if:
- The other person is claiming Carer’s Allowance.
- They’re receiving an extra amount of Universal Credit for caring for someone receiving a disability benefit.
Care can involve tasks like taking them to appointments, helping with cooking/washing, and assisting with household chores such as shopping and managing bills.
Carers Allowance Rate 2024
If a carer is also receiving a state pension along with Carer’s Allowance, they cannot receive the full amounts from both benefits simultaneously.
- If the state pension exceeds £76.75 per week, they won’t receive Carer’s Allowance.
- If the pension is less than £76.75 per week, they’ll receive Carer’s Allowance to supplement the difference.
- If the state pension exceeds £76.75 per week, they won’t receive Carer’s Allowance, but their pension credit payments will increase.
Receiving Carer’s Allowance can also affect other benefits that both the carer and the person receiving care are entitled to.
When a carer receives the allowance, the person they are caring for will no longer receive:
- Severe disability premium (included with other benefits)
- An additional amount of severe disability premium (included with pension credit)
When the carer starts receiving the allowance, their other benefits may be adjusted. However, the total amount they receive from benefits will either remain the same or increase.
How to Claim Carers Allowance?
To apply for Carer’s Allowance, individuals can choose either the online method or by post. Those opting for the postal application need to acquire a form from the authorities, which they can request by phone.
Applicants should ensure they have all necessary information and documents, including:
- National Insurance number
- Employment details
- Bank details
- Latest payslip (if employed)
- Course details (if studying)
- Expense details
Additionally, they must provide details about the person they are caring for, such as:
- Address
- Date of birth
- National Insurance number
- Disability Living Allowance reference number
How Much is Carers Allowance?
A person caring for someone can receive £76.75 per week if they meet all eligibility requirements. However, they can’t claim this allowance for more than one person they care for.
If the person being cared for passes away, the carer will continue to receive the allowance for up to 8 weeks. If the carer is hospitalized for at least 8 weeks, they will receive the allowance for up to 12 weeks.
It’s important for those receiving Carer’s Allowance to promptly report any changes in their circumstances to the authorities.