How to Claim Carer’s Allowance

When it comes to caring for an older loved one, information is key. Knowing about how to handle medical conditions, unexpected events like falls and legal matters like lasting powers of attorney can make a huge difference.

Likewise, it’s important to know both what assistance is available from the government and how you can get it. For example, Carer’s Allowance can be a huge help to those who have dedicated their time to caring for an elderly loved one.

However, not everyone knows how to claim Carer’s Allowance or even who can claim Carer’s Allowance. You might wonder – can you claim Carer’s Allowance for yourself? Or can you claim Carer’s Allowance for more than one person?

We’re here to answer all of your questions about what is needed to claim Carer’s Allowance. Read on to learn about the ins and outs of getting this important assistance for elderly people’s carers.

What is Carer’s Allowance?

Carer’s Allowance is a payment from the government to those who have devoted a significant portion of their hours to the work of caring for a loved one. It’s £76.75 per week, which can be paid each week or every four weeks.

How to claim Carer’s Allowance

First, it’s important to note that you need the consent of the older person you’re caring for to apply for Carer’s Allowance. This is because your Carer’s Allowance could affect their benefits as well as yours.

Once you have their consent, you can simply apply for Carer’s Allowance through a government website.

Before you start, you’ll need to gather some information about yourself and the senior you’re caring for.

For more in-depth details about applying, take a look at our complete guide to making a Carer’s Allowance application.

What is needed to claim Carer’s Allowance?

In order to claim Carer’s Allowance, you’ll need these details about yourself:

• Your National Insurance number and your partner’s number.
• Your education and employment information, which is essential to show your eligibility. If you are working, you’ll need your most recent pay slip. And if you’ve recently ended a job, you’ll need a P45 form.
• Your bank information.
• Details about your expenses, including those relating to caring.

You’ll also need to know these things about the older person you’re caring for:

• Their National Insurance number.
• Their date of birth.
• Their address.

Who can claim Carer’s Allowance

Carer’s Allowance is intended for people who aren’t able to work or be in education full time because of their caring responsibilities. In a way, the government is hiring you to be your older loved one’s full-time carer.

Therefore, carers need to:

• Be aged 16 or older
• Provide care for thirty-five hours a week or more
• Spend twenty or fewer hours a week on education
• Have net earnings of £139 or less per week – after caring expenses are deducted.
• Be the only person claiming Carer’s Allowance for the person receiving care.

In order to claim, you’ll also usually need to live in England, Wales or Scotland and have lived there for at least two out of the three previous years. You’ll also need an immigration status that makes you eligible for benefits.

Lastly, if you receive a State Pension, the total of your State Pension and Carer’s Allowance can’t add up to more than £76.75 a week, which means you are not eligible for Carer’s Allowance if your State Pension is higher than that already.

Since eligibility can be complicated, take a look at the government’s Carer’s Allowance eligibility page for full details.

Don’t forget also that there are also eligibility requirements for the person receiving care. Basically, they need to be receiving certain benefits in order for their carer to be eligible for Carer’s Allowance.

Frequently asked questions about how to claim Carer’s Allowance

Can you claim Carer’s Allowance for yourself?

If you are a carer, you can certainly make your own application for Carer’s Allowance through the UK government’s website.

However, sometimes people wonder whether they can make a claim in which they’re both the carer and the person receiving care. That’s not allowed. An elderly person who needs to devote all their time to their own care would need to apply for government benefits for disabled people instead.

Can I claim Carer's Allowance if I work?

There is no problem with you working as long as you meet the qualifications of caring for thirty-five or more hours per week and earning less than £140 per week net. As a note, if your income varies per week and is sometimes higher than that, the government might try to find the average of your earnings to see if you’re still eligible.

Take a look at the government guidance on carers who work for more tips about balancing work and care.

If you’re caring for an elderly loved one full time but you also need to go out occasionally for part-time work, a personal alarm for the elderly can give you peace of mind while you’re gone. For example, a personal alarm with fall detection ensures that help is always called if an older person falls while they’re alone. This type of alarm can sense the fall and raises an alert automatically, even if the wearer is unconscious.

An alarm that lets an older person contact you with the touch of just one button can also be very helpful. That ensures that if any crisis occurs while you’re out working, an older loved one with reduced mobility doesn’t have to worry about getting to a phone. And a mobile alarm with GPS tracking is great for older people with dementia who are at risk of wandering or getting lost. You can even set a “geo-fence” that will alert you if the wearer leaves a specified area.

Can you claim Carer’s Allowance for more than one person?

The government’s page on Carer’s Allowance states that: “You do not get paid extra if you care for more than one person.” So, in short, you cannot claim Carer’s Allowance for more than one person.

Protection for seniors and peace of mind for carers through SureSafe

Personal alarms for the elderly aren’t just for older people without carers. They’re a great extra support for older people that offer peace of mind in the moments when a carer isn’t directly nearby, whether that’s during the night, during a carer’s trip to the shops or if a carer goes out for part-time work.

SureSafe is a UK market leader in personal alarms, with tens of thousands of alarms sold since 2015 and a 4.8 out of 5 star rating on reviews.io showing the reliability and quality of our devices.

Thinking about getting a personal alarm for an older loved one, but not sure which option is best? We’d love to talk with you about which alarm would be just right for you. Simply give us a call on 0800 112 3201, get in touch through our live chat or request a call back.