carer's allowance and carer's credit |
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What is Carer’s Allowance?
Carer’s Allowance is a benefit for people who can’t work full-time because they are caring for a person who is disabled or who has special/additional needs.
If you also work, how much do you earn?
You cannot earn more than the ‘earnings limit’. If you think that your earnings are likely to be more, contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit to discuss your circumstances. If you earn more than the earnings limit in a certain week, we won’t pay Carer’s Allowance for the following week. Please click here for a government update.
Do you care for more than one person?
Carer’s Allowance can only be paid for caring for one person. If you care for more than one person you can only claim Carer’s Allowance for one of them.
Carers's Credit is a contribution towards your national insurance/state pension. Please read the leaflet below for more information. This is very important for your future and is a 'credit' that most people do not know about. So if you are a carer, even if you are NOT able to claim Carers Allowance, you may still be entitled to Carers Credit.
How do I claim?
You will need to fill in a form to claim Carer’s Allowance. You can get the form in three ways.
Online
You can go to: www.gov.uk/carers-allowance. On the website, you can:
• claim online
• fill in a claim form on your computer to print out and post to us, or
• print out a blank claim form to fill in by hand and post to us.
By phone
To get a claim form and arrange help filling it in:
Phone: 0845 608 4321 Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Carer’s Allowance is a benefit for people who can’t work full-time because they are caring for a person who is disabled or who has special/additional needs.
- Carer’s Allowance is a payment to help you look after someone with substantial caring needs.
- You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
- You must be 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for them.
- Carer’s Allowance is taxable. It can also affect your other benefits.
If you also work, how much do you earn?
You cannot earn more than the ‘earnings limit’. If you think that your earnings are likely to be more, contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit to discuss your circumstances. If you earn more than the earnings limit in a certain week, we won’t pay Carer’s Allowance for the following week. Please click here for a government update.
Do you care for more than one person?
Carer’s Allowance can only be paid for caring for one person. If you care for more than one person you can only claim Carer’s Allowance for one of them.
Carers's Credit is a contribution towards your national insurance/state pension. Please read the leaflet below for more information. This is very important for your future and is a 'credit' that most people do not know about. So if you are a carer, even if you are NOT able to claim Carers Allowance, you may still be entitled to Carers Credit.
How do I claim?
You will need to fill in a form to claim Carer’s Allowance. You can get the form in three ways.
Online
You can go to: www.gov.uk/carers-allowance. On the website, you can:
• claim online
• fill in a claim form on your computer to print out and post to us, or
• print out a blank claim form to fill in by hand and post to us.
By phone
To get a claim form and arrange help filling it in:
Phone: 0845 608 4321 Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.
For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/overview
Not sure where to start and would like to talk to someone?
Contact can offer advice on completing claim forms. Their national freephone helpline can also put you in touch with local help to complete any forms. Call 0808 888 3555 to find out more or visit the website: https://contact.org.uk/advice-and-support/benefits-financial-help/benefits-and-tax-credits/carers-allowance/
Contact can offer advice on completing claim forms. Their national freephone helpline can also put you in touch with local help to complete any forms. Call 0808 888 3555 to find out more or visit the website: https://contact.org.uk/advice-and-support/benefits-financial-help/benefits-and-tax-credits/carers-allowance/