Carer's Allowance 2026 — Am I eligible? UK guide

Q: How do I claim Carer's Allowance?

In England and Wales, apply online at gov.uk/carers-allowance or by post using form DS700. In Northern Ireland it is run by the Department for Communities, not the DWP — claim through nidirect (Disability and Carers Service 0800 587 0912 ). In Scotland apply for Carer Support Payment at mygov.scot. You will need your National Insurance number, employment details, bank details and the National Insurance number of the person you care for. Claims can be backdated by up to 3 months.

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Read this first if you live in Scotland The DWP no longer takes new Carer’s Allowance claims from people living in Scotland. Carer’s Allowance has been replaced by Carer Support Payment from Social Security Scotland — the same £86.45 a week, plus the Scottish Carer Supplement paid automatically on top. Existing Carer’s Allowance awards in Scotland have already been transferred across. Apply at mygov.scot/carer-support-payment or call 0800 182 2222 — applying to the DWP instead will only lose you time. Full-time students in Scotland can claim, which is not the case in the rest of the UK. Everything below applies to England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Who is eligible?

All five of these must be true:

You are 16 or over
You care for someone for at least 35 hours a week — this can include emotional support, supervision, helping with appointments, paperwork, not just hands-on care
The person you care for receives a qualifying disability benefit: Attendance Allowance (or, in Scotland, Pension Age Disability Payment — the Social Security Scotland replacement for Attendance Allowance), PIP daily living (any rate), DLA middle or higher rate care component, Armed Forces Independence Payment, or Constant Attendance Allowance
You earn no more than £204 a week after tax, NI and allowable expenses (so a part-time job is usually fine)
You are not in full-time education (over 21 hours per week of supervised study)

You don't have to live with them You can claim Carer's Allowance for caring for someone outside your home — including a parent in their own house. The 35 hours can be spread across the week (e.g. 5 hours a day every day).

The Severe Disability Premium trap

This catches a lot of families. If the person you care for receives Severe Disability Premium (SDP) as part of their Pension Credit, Income Support, JSA, ESA or Housing Benefit, they will LOSE SDP if you start claiming Carer's Allowance for them.

SDP is currently worth around £81.50 a week. If the person you care for loses that, the household could be worse off overall.

Always check first Before submitting Carer's Allowance, check whether the person you care for receives SDP. Carers UK on 0808 808 7777 and Age UK on 0800 678 1602 will both do this check free of charge.

What Carer's Allowance unlocks

National Insurance credits — every week you receive Carer's Allowance counts as a paid-up NI year, protecting your State Pension
Carer Premium on Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit — adds £45.60 a week on top
Free council tax disregard in many councils
Bereavement Support Payment protection if the person you care for dies — Carer's Allowance continues for 8 weeks
Council respite and support services — many councils prioritise carers receiving Carer's Allowance

How to claim

Read this first if you live in Northern Ireland Carer’s Allowance is paid in Northern Ireland, but it is run by the Department for Communities (Disability and Carers Service), not the DWP. Claim through nidirect — the GOV.UK claim is for England and Wales. Enquiries: 0800 587 0912 (Mon–Fri 9am–4pm). Check the current NI weekly rate and earnings limit on nidirect. Free help: Advice NI or Citizens Advice.

Claim it now — free

England & Wales: claim via GOV.UK → Northern Ireland: claim via nidirect → Scotland: Carer Support Payment → 📞 Carers UK 0808 808 7777

Have ready: your National Insurance number, employment and earnings details, bank details, and the National Insurance number of the person you care for. In Scotland, apply for Carer Support Payment at mygov.scot or call 0800 182 2222 — the DWP no longer accepts new Carer’s Allowance claims there.

England and Wales: open gov.uk/carers-allowance. Northern Ireland: claim through nidirect (Department for Communities, 0800 587 0912). Scotland: apply for Carer Support Payment at mygov.scot instead
You'll need: your National Insurance number, employment and earnings details, bank details, and the National Insurance number of the person you care for
The online form takes around 20-30 minutes
Claims can be backdated by up to 3 months — which can be a £1,000+ lump sum, on top of the ongoing weekly amount

Carer's Credit if you don't qualify

If you care for someone between 20 and 34 hours a week — too few hours for Carer's Allowance — you may still qualify for Carer's Credit. It gives you National Insurance credits (so your State Pension is protected) but no money. Apply with form CC1 from gov.uk/carers-credit. In Northern Ireland, Carer’s Credit is administered by the Department for Communities — apply through nidirect (Disability and Carers Service, 0800 587 0912).

Source verification Primary sources: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) · gov.uk/carers-allowance and Social Security Scotland · mygov.scot/carer-support-payment (page last updated 5 Apr 2026). Northern Ireland: Department for Communities — Disability and Carers Service · communities-ni.gov.uk (page updated 15 Jun 2026) and nidirect — Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Credit in NI are administered by DfC, not the DWP (enquiries 0800 587 0912). Last verified 13 July 2026. Confidence: High (rate, the fact that new Carer’s Allowance claims are closed in Scotland, and the NI claim route) + Medium (caring assessment). Scope: England & Wales (DWP) — Scotland = Carer Support Payment; Northern Ireland = DfC via nidirect. Framework: Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 s.70. Reviewed quarterly and at tax-year start.

Also see: The £204 earnings limit — the cliff edge · In Scotland? Carer Support Payment replaces this · Managing their benefits too? Become their DWP appointee · Need a break? Respite care & who pays

Carer's Allowance — common questions

Who is eligible for Carer's Allowance?

You can claim if you are 16 or over, care for someone for at least 35 hours a week, the person you care for receives a qualifying disability benefit (Attendance Allowance, PIP daily living, DLA middle/high care, AFIP), and you earn no more than £204 a week after tax, NI and expenses.

How much is Carer's Allowance in 2026?

£86.45 a week — that's £4,495 a year. It is taxable but most carers' income is low enough that no tax is actually paid. It also gives you National Insurance credits that protect your State Pension.

Does Carer's Allowance affect the person I care for?

Possibly. If the person you care for receives the Severe Disability Premium (part of Income Support, JSA, ESA, Housing Benefit or Pension Credit), they may LOSE it when you claim Carer's Allowance. Always check before claiming, especially for elderly parents on Pension Credit. Carers UK (0808 808 7777) and Age UK (0800 678 1602) will check free.

How do I claim Carer's Allowance?

In England and Wales, apply online at gov.uk/carers-allowance or by post using form DS700. In Northern Ireland it is run by the Department for Communities, not the DWP — claim through nidirect (Disability and Carers Service 0800 587 0912). In Scotland apply for Carer Support Payment at mygov.scot. You will need your National Insurance number, employment details, bank details and the National Insurance number of the person you care for. Claims can be backdated by up to 3 months.

Can I claim Carer’s Allowance in Scotland?

No. New Carer’s Allowance claims from people living in Scotland are no longer accepted — it has been replaced by Carer Support Payment from Social Security Scotland. Same £86.45 a week, plus the Scottish Carer Supplement automatically on top, and full-time students can claim. Apply at mygov.scot or call 0800 182 2222.

What is Carer's Credit?

If you care for 20-34 hours a week (less than the Carer's Allowance threshold), you may qualify for Carer's Credit — National Insurance credits only, no money. It still protects your State Pension. Apply on form CC1.

Sources: Carer's Allowance · GOV.UK Carer's Allowance. Carer's Credit · GOV.UK Carer's Credit. Take-up estimate · Carers UK State of Caring. Carers UK Adviceline 0808 808 7777. Age UK Advice 0800 678 1602. Last reviewed: May 2026.

Caring for someone? You may be missing Carer's Allowance.