Caring for someone with an illness, disability, or long‑term health condition can be rewarding but challenging, and sometimes costly. In the UK, Carer’s Allowance exists to provide financial support to unpaid carers. Our 2026 guide explains what Carer’s Allowance is, who can claim it, how much you could receive and how it interacts with other benefits, including the State Pension.
What is Carer’s Allowance?
Carer’s Allowance is a UK welfare benefit paid to people who regularly care for someone with a disability or long‑term health need for at least 35 hours per week. It’s there to help support unpaid carers who provide significant care without being paid for it.
You don’t need to live with the person you care for, and there’s no requirement to be related to them. The benefit is not means‑tested, but there are other criteria you must meet to qualify.
Data from Carers UK shows that tens of thousands of unpaid carers may currently be missing out on this support, highlighting the importance of understanding eligibility.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Carer’s Allowance in the UK (England, Scotland and Wales), you must:
- Be aged 16 or over.
- Provide 35 hours or more of care per week.
- Not be in full‑time education (typically 21 hours per week or more).
- Have earnings at or below £204 per week (after tax, National Insurance and allowable expenses) under the GOV.UK 2026/27 rules.
- Meet UK residency conditions (living in the UK and present for 2 of the last 3 years, or eligible under specific immigration statuses).
- Care for someone who is receiving a qualifying disability benefit (such as Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance, Child Disability Payment and similar awards).
It’s important to note, according to Gov.uk, that only one person can normally claim Carer’s Allowance for the same individual, even if multiple people provide care.
PA & Carers Insurance
Cover available for:
- Self-Employed Carers & PAs
- Individual Employers
- Carer & PA Businesses
- Direct Payments
- Domiciliary Carers
- Home Employment Cover (for those who employ carers in their home)
How Much Can I Claim
From April 2026, Carer’s Allowance will be £86.45 per week (up from £83.30).
This allowance is taxable and can affect other benefits, but for each week you receive it, you’ll also earn National Insurance credits, which contribute towards your State Pension.
If your weekly earnings exceed £204, you usually cannot receive Carer’s Allowance, however, underlying entitlement rules may still apply to increase other means-tested benefits.
How to Apply for Carer’s Allowance
You can claim Carer’s Allowance online via the UK Government website or by post:
Carer’s Allowance Unit
Mail Handling Site A
Wolverhampton
WV98 2AB
To apply for Carer’s Allowance, you will need:
- Your National Insurance number and bank details.
- Your employment details, including recent payslips or a P45 if you’ve recently left work.
- Information about the person you care for, including their address, date of birth, National Insurance number, and disability benefit.
Carers UK states that claims can sometimes be backdated if you were eligible before applying, which can be important if you were caring for someone for several months before claiming.
Effect on other benefits
Carer’s Allowance can impact both your benefits and those of the person you care for.
Benefits you receive
If you receive income-replacement benefits like the State Pension or contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), you usually cannot be paid Carer’s Allowance at the same time.
Contribution-based ESA is a benefit for people who are unable to work because of illness or disability. The rule exists because these benefits are designed to replace income, so you can’t receive two payments for the same reason.
However, even if you don’t get the Carer’s Allowance payment because of these rules, you may still have an underlying entitlement. This means the government recognises you qualify for Carer’s Allowance, and this can increase other means-tested benefits such as Housing Benefit, Pension Credit, or Universal Credit. It works by adding a carer’s premium to your benefit calculations.
Benefits of the person you care for
When Carer’s Allowance is paid, the person you care for may lose certain extras on their benefits, including a severe disability premium or reduced council tax, according to Gov.uk. It’s therefore important that you make them aware if you are making a claim.
Universal Credit
Data shows that Carer’s Allowance counts as income when calculating Universal Credit, but claimants may also qualify for the Carer Element, which increases entitlement for eligible carers.
State pension
Carer’s Allowance can affect your State Pension in two ways:
- National Insurance credits: For each week you’re awarded Carer’s Allowance (or have underlying entitlement), you receive National Insurance credits. These help maintain your contribution record and can help you qualify for a full State Pension.
- State Pension and direct payment: If you already receive the full State Pension, you may not be paid Carer’s Allowance directly because they are overlapping benefits. In these cases, you may still hold an underlying entitlement, which can benefit other means‑tested support.
Next Steps for Carers
Carer’s Allowance continues to provide important financial support for unpaid carers in the UK. In 2026, the weekly rate rises to £86.45, and the earnings limit increases to £204 per week. It’s important to plan carefully, as receiving Carer’s Allowance can affect other benefits.
