If you spend a lot of time caring for someone with a disability or illness, you may be entitled to a benefit known as Carer’s Allowance. This financial support from the UK government helps unpaid carers who provide substantial care – and with the Carer’s Allowance 2025 updates coming into effect, it’s more important than ever to understand how it works, how much you could get, and how to apply.
What is Carer’s Allowance?
Carer’s Allowance is a benefit for people who provide regular care to someone with substantial needs due to a disability or long-term illness. Whether you’re wondering about the DWP Carers Allowance process or looking to ease your financial burden, this support could make a real difference.
If you’re juggling work, life, and unpaid caregiving, Carer’s Allowance 2024 and 2025 aims to acknowledge that contribution and help with the cost of living.
Who is Carer’s Allowance For?
Wondering who qualifies? Carers Allowance eligibility applies to people aged 16+ who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone receiving one of these qualifying benefits:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – daily living component
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) – middle or highest care rate
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance – full day rate
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
You don’t need to be related to or live with the person you care for. What matters is the regular, substantial care you provide.
How Much is Carer’s Allowance?
The current Carer’s Allowance rate for 2024 is £81.90 per week, paid directly to your bank account either weekly or every four weeks. Wondering, “Carers Allowance how much can I earn?” You can earn up to £151 a week after deductions without losing your benefit.
As we look toward the May Carers Payment and new updates in 2025, it’s wise to regularly check the Carers Allowance amount on the Gov Carers Allowance page to stay informed.
Rules for Claiming Carer’s Allowance
Here’s a quick overview of the rules for claiming Carer’s Allowance:
- You must be 16 or over
- You need to care for at least 35 hours a week
- You must be living in the UK (England, Scotland, or Wales)
- Your income should be below the weekly threshold (£151 after tax and deductions)
- You can’t be in full-time education (21+ hours)
Even if you’re not paid the full benefit due to overlapping payments, you may still have an underlying entitlement – useful when applying for additional support like Carer’s Credit.
Commonly Asked Questions
How much can I earn and still claim Carer’s Allowance?
You can earn up to £151 per week after tax, NI, and expenses. Any more and your Carers Allowance application may be affected.
“I get PIP; can I claim Carers Allowance?”
Yes! Receiving Personal Independence Payment doesn’t stop someone else from claiming Carer’s Allowance for helping you. If you’re caring for someone on PIP, your claim could be valid.
Searching PIP Carers Allowance or Carers Allowance and Personal Independence Payment can help you understand this better.
Cancelling Carer’s Allowance
If your circumstances change, make sure to contact Carer Allowance services to avoid overpayments. Delayed updates or unreported income can lead to Carer’s Allowance overpayment debt, which the DWP Carers Allowance team will reclaim.
Why Does Overpayment Happen?
- Earnings slightly exceeding the £151 weekly limit can lead to overpayments, even if the increase was unintentional.
- Delays in reporting changes in work, income, or hours spent caring can result in accrued debt.
- Administrative errors or miscalculations by DWP may also contribute to overpayments.
What Can You Do If You Owe Money?
- Check the calculations – If you receive an overpayment notice, request a breakdown to ensure it’s correct.
- Request a reconsideration – If you believe the overpayment isn’t fair, you can challenge the decision.
- Set up a repayment plan – The DWP may allow repayments in instalments to ease financial strain.
- Seek advice – Charities like Citizens Advice and Turn2Us can offer support if you’re struggling to repay.
If you’re at risk of an overpayment, regularly check your earnings and report any changes as soon as possible to avoid unexpected debt.
Backdating Carers Allowance
Yes, you can request backdating Carer’s Allowance for up to 3 months, as long as you met the eligibility requirements during that time.
When submitting your Carers Allowance application, be sure to tick the box for backdating or inform DWP directly.
How to Apply for Carer’s Allowance
Applying for Carer’s Allowance is simple. You can:
- Apply online at gov.uk/carers-allowance.
- Call the Carer’s Allowance Telephone Number helpline on 0800 731 0297.
- Request a paper form (DS700 or DS700(SP) for state pension claimants) and post it to:
Freepost DWP Carers Allowance Unit
For your Carer’s Allowance application, you’ll need to provide:
- Your National Insurance number.
- The details of the person you care for, including their National Insurance number and qualifying benefit information.
- Your bank details.
- Information about your income, work, and other benefits.
The rules for claiming carer’s allowance might be confusing. If that is the case, or to discover if you qualify for carers allowance or to discuss your current carers allowance, please use the information above.
Important Information
- Carer’s Allowance Telephone Number: 0800 731 0297
- By Post: Freepost DWP Carers Allowance Unit
- For Carer’s Allowance, you can also apply online at: https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/how-to-claim
You’ll need:
- Your National Insurance number
- Details of the person you care for
- Info about your work/income
- Your bank details
Still unsure? Just search Carer Allowance apply or claiming Carers Allowance for more guidance.
Carer’s Allowance Payments and May Bank Holidays 2025
If you receive Carer’s Allowance, it’s important to be aware that upcoming bank holidays in May 2025 will affect when you get paid.
When a payment date falls on a bank holiday, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) usually sends out payments earlier, ensuring that carers do not experience delays.
For May 2025, the changes to payment dates are:
- Early May Bank Holiday: Payments due on Monday, 5 May 2025, will instead be made on Friday, 2 May 2025.
- Spring Bank Holiday: Payments due on Monday, 26 May 2025, will be issued on Friday, 23 May 2025.
Carer’s Allowance is generally paid either weekly in advance or every four weeks, and while the date of payment may shift, the amount paid remains the same unless your circumstances have changed.
Because your payment will arrive earlier than usual, there may be a slightly longer gap before the next scheduled payment. It’s a good idea to plan your budget with this in mind.
If your payment doesn’t arrive when expected, you should first check with your bank. If there are still problems, you can contact the DWP directly for support.
How to Sign Up for FREE
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