Carer’s Allowance

What Carer’s Allowance is

Carer’s Allowance is a weekly payment for people who spend a lot of time caring for someone with a disability or health condition. It is the main benefit aimed specifically at carers. It is taxable and counts as income for some other benefits.

How much it is

Carer’s Allowance is £86.45 a week (2026/27). It is usually paid weekly in advance or every four weeks.

Figures are for the 2026/27 tax year and usually change each April. Always confirm the current amount on GOV.UK — Carer’s Allowance.

The main conditions

• You are 16 or over.
• You spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone.
• The person you care for gets a qualifying disability benefit (see below).
• You earn £204 a week or less after tax, National Insurance and certain expenses.
• You are not in full-time education and not studying 21 hours a week or more.
• You meet the residence and presence rules for England/Wales.

Which benefit the person you care for must get

The person you care for must already receive one of these:

• PIP — the daily living component (either rate)
• DLA — the middle or highest care rate
• Attendance Allowance
• Adult Disability Payment — daily living (standard or enhanced)
• Child Disability Payment — middle or highest care rate
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Constant Attendance Allowance (at the specified rates)

How it affects other benefits

Carer’s Allowance can interact with other benefits:

• Your State Pension: you cannot get the full amount of both. If your pension is £86.45 a week or more, you will not receive a Carer’s Allowance payment (you may have an “underlying entitlement” that can still help with other benefits).
• The person you care for: your claim can sometimes affect a “severe disability premium” or similar additions in their means-tested benefits. It is worth checking before claiming.
• Universal Credit: there is a separate carer element of Universal Credit, which has different rules.

Next steps

• Check the rules and how to apply on who can claim and how to claim.
• If you cannot get Carer’s Allowance, see Carer’s Credit.
• Official source: GOV.UK — Carer’s Allowance.