[Closed] Carers allowance

If you spend a big chunk of your week looking after someone, this one's for you. Carer's Allowance is a weekly payment for people who care for someone with a disability or health condition, and it's a small way of saying thank you for everything you do.
How much is it?
£86.45 a week (from April 2026), paid every week or every 4 weeks.
You can earn up to £204 a week after tax, National Insurance and some expenses (like half your pension contributions and care costs) and still claim.
Who can claim?
You care for someone for at least 35 hours a week.
The person you care for gets a qualifying disability benefit, such as Attendance Allowance, PIP (daily living component, either rate), or the middle or highest rate care component of DLA.
You're 16 or over, not in full-time education, and earn no more than the limit above.
Good things to know:
It's not means-tested, so your savings don't count.
It's taxable, though most carers won't end up paying tax on it.
Watch the earnings limit. Go over it, even by a little, and you can lose the whole payment for that week. Keep an eye on overtime, bonuses and irregular pay.
You must tell the DWP promptly if your circumstances change, so you don't end up with an overpayment.
It can affect other benefits, like the severe disability premium of the person you care for, but it can also boost yours. Universal Credit and Pension Credit include extra carer amounts, so it's worth getting advice on how it all fits together.
It can help protect your State Pension record through National Insurance credits.
Where to start: you can claim on GOV.UK or by phone. Carers UK and Citizens Advice are great if you'd like some help with the form or a benefits check.
Rates are correct for 2026/27, but always double-check on GOV.UK. Scotland has its own version, Carer Support Payment, so our Scottish friends should look at that one.
We'd love to hear from other carers in the forum. Sharing tips and a few kind words really does help. 🫶