Carer's Allowance UK: Eligibility, Rates and How to Claim in 2026

More than 1.3 million people in the UK claim Carer's Allowance — yet many carers who are entitled to it have never applied, simply because they don't know they qualify. If you spend a significant chunk of your week looking after someone with a disability or long-term health condition, this guide covers everything you need to know: what carer's allowance is, who qualifies, the latest rates, and how to apply online today.

What Is Carer's Allowance? An Overview

Carer's Allowance is the main state benefit for people who provide regular, substantial care to someone with a disability or long-term illness in the UK. It is not means-tested in the traditional sense — your savings and household income don't automatically count against you — but there is an earnings limit you need to stay under (more on that below).

The benefit is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and is designed to partially compensate carers for the hours they dedicate to looking after another person. It is taxable income, so you may need to declare it if you also have earnings from work.

Carer's Allowance is separate from Carer's Credit, which doesn't pay you money but protects your National Insurance record if you're not working. If you don't qualify for the allowance, Carer's Credit may still be worth applying for.

Carer's Allowance Eligibility

Carer's allowance eligibility comes down to three things: you, the person you care for, and the type of care you provide. All of the following must apply to you personally:

• You are aged 16 or over.
• You spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone.
• Your earnings are £204 or less per week after tax, National Insurance, and allowable expenses.
• You are not in full-time education or studying for 21 or more hours a week.
• You have lived in England, Scotland, or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years (exemptions apply for refugees and armed forces personnel).
• You are not subject to immigration control.

Important for Scotland: If you live in Scotland, you need to apply for Carer Support Payment through Social Security Scotland rather than Carer's Allowance.

Who Must the Person You Care For Be?

The person you look after does not have to be a family member — you don't even need to live together. However, they must already be receiving one of the following qualifying benefits:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) — daily living component at either rate
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) — middle or highest care rate
• Attendance Allowance
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Adult Disability Payment — daily living component (Scotland)
• Constant Attendance Allowance (at or above normal maximum rate)
• Child Disability Payment — middle or highest care rate

What Counts as Caring?

The 35-hour weekly care threshold covers a wide range of activities. It doesn't have to be hands-on personal care — it can include helping with meals, taking someone to medical appointments, managing their finances, shopping, or helping around the home. You're not required to provide all types of care; the key is that the hours add up to 35 or more each week.

Carer's Allowance Rates 2026

The carer's allowance rates 2026/27 financial year are as follows:

This represents an increase from the 2025/26 rate of £81.90 per week, following the annual uprating in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI).

How Much Can You Earn and Still Claim?

The earnings limit for 2026/27 is £204 net per week — meaning after income tax, National Insurance contributions, and allowable expenses have been deducted. This works out at roughly £10,600 a year, which means many part-time and lower-paid workers can claim Carer's Allowance alongside their job.

Allowable expenses that can bring your earnings below the threshold include:

• 50% of your pension contributions
• Equipment needed for work (e.g. specialist clothing or tools)
• Travel costs between different workplaces not reimbursed by your employer
• Up to 50% of childcare or care costs you pay while you work, as long as the carer isn't a close relative

It's worth sitting down and calculating your net earnings carefully before assuming you don't qualify. Many people find they fall below the threshold once legitimate expenses are factored in.

Carer's Allowance and PIP — What's the Connection?

PIP (Personal Independence Payment) is one of the most common qualifying benefits that opens the door to Carer's Allowance. If the person you care for receives PIP and it includes the daily living component (at either the standard or enhanced rate), they meet one of the core criteria for you to claim Carer's Allowance.

It's important to understand that PIP is paid to the disabled person — not to the carer. Carer's Allowance is paid to the carer. Receiving Carer's Allowance does not affect the disabled person's PIP award. However, it may reduce an underlying entitlement in the disabled person's benefit calculations, specifically if they receive the Severe Disability Premium within other legacy benefits. If this applies, it's worth getting advice from Citizens Advice or a welfare rights organisation before applying.

Similarly, if the person you care for receives Attendance Allowance or the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the middle or highest rate, they also qualify, making Carer's Allowance accessible to those looking after elderly relatives as well as working-age disabled people.

Carer's Allowance and State Pension

If your State Pension is £86.45 per week or more, you won't receive a Carer's Allowance payment — but you may still have what's known as an "underlying entitlement." This is worth establishing because it can increase your Pension Credit and may entitle the person you care for to additional premiums within their benefits. Always apply even if you're a pensioner, as the underlying entitlement can be financially significant.

How to Claim Carer's Allowance Online

Applying for Carer's Allowance is straightforward. The quickest way is to apply online via GOV.UK — most people complete the online form in under 20 minutes. Here's what to expect when you start your carer's allowance unit application:

1. Check eligibility first. Use the GOV.UK eligibility checker at gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility before starting your form.
2. Gather your documents. You'll need your National Insurance number, details of any employment or self-employment earnings, the National Insurance number of the person you care for, and their disability benefit reference number.
3. Complete the online form. Go to gov.uk/carers-allowance/how-to-claim to apply online. You can save your progress and return to it later.
4. Alternatively, use form DS700. If you prefer to apply by post, download or request form DS700 from GOV.UK. Completed forms are sent to the Carer's Allowance Unit.
5. Wait for a decision. The DWP aims to process claims within 12 weeks, though many are decided faster. Payments are made weekly or every four weeks directly into your bank account.

Carer's Allowance can be backdated by up to 3 months from the date of your application, so it's worth applying as soon as you think you may qualify.

How to Apply If You're Working

Being in paid work doesn't automatically rule you out — it all comes down to whether your net earnings are under £204 per week. If you're self-employed, the DWP will look at your average weekly profit rather than turnover. If your income fluctuates, the DWP may look at an average over a representative period. It's always worth applying and letting the DWP assess your situation rather than assuming you won't qualify.

If you're on Universal Credit, receiving Carer's Allowance may increase your Universal Credit award through the Carer Element, which is currently worth an additional £198.31 per month (2026/27). The two benefits work alongside each other, and claiming one doesn't prevent you from claiming the other.

Carer's Allowance Number — Getting in Touch

If you need to speak to someone about your claim, report a change in circumstances, or chase a decision, you can contact the Carer's Allowance Unit directly:

Your Carer's Allowance number (your unique claim reference) will appear on any correspondence from the DWP once your claim has been processed. Keep it safe — you'll need it whenever you contact the unit.

What Else Should Carers Know?

Carer's Credit

If you don't qualify for Carer's Allowance — perhaps because you're a student or your earnings are too high — you may still be eligible for Carer's Credit. This doesn't pay you money but fills gaps in your National Insurance record, protecting your entitlement to the State Pension.

Breaks in Caring

You can take a break from caring of up to four weeks in any 26-week period without it affecting your Carer's Allowance. If the person you care for goes into hospital, your payments can continue for up to 12 weeks in most circumstances.

Carer's Leave at Work

Since April 2024, the Carer's Leave Act gives all UK employees a statutory right to up to one week of unpaid leave per year for caring purposes. This is a "day one" right — you don't need to have been in the job for any length of time to use it. Your employer cannot refuse it, though they can postpone it by up to a month if the timing causes genuine operational difficulties.

Carers Insurance — Protecting Yourself Too

Carers often focus so much on the person they're looking after that they forget to protect themselves. If you work as a paid carer or Personal Assistant, specialist carers insurance is worth considering. It can cover you for liability claims, legal costs, and even loss of earnings if you're unable to work due to illness or injury — something that would directly affect both you and the person who relies on you.