Carer’s Allowance: Support for the Family Member Doing the Caring
The benefit for the person who holds everything together
Carer’s Allowance pays £86.45 a week to someone who cares for a person at least 35 hours a week, where the person cared for receives a qualifying disability benefit such as Attendance Allowance. You do not need to live with them or be related to them, and the current earnings limit is £204 a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses.
Most family carers never think of themselves as carers, let alone claim for it. If you are the son, daughter or partner quietly doing the mornings, the medication and the worrying, this guide is about support for you, based on the current GOV.UK rules.
Carer’s Allowance at a Glance
The essentials:
- £86.45 a week for caring at least 35 hours a week
- The person cared for must get a qualifying benefit, including Attendance Allowance or the daily living part of PIP
- Earnings limit: £204 a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses. There is no savings limit
- You need not be related to, or live with, the person you care for
- Only one carer can claim for the same person, and caring for two people does not pay twice
- It is taxable, adds National Insurance credits toward your State Pension, and can affect other benefits on both sides, so check before claiming
Figures on this page were checked on 13 August 2026 against GOV.UK’s Carer’s Allowance guidance. Rates can change, usually each April, and GOV.UK always has the most up to date figures.
Who Can Claim
The 35 hours, honestly counted
Thirty-five hours is less than most family carers actually do once you count it properly: help with washing and dressing, meals, medication, appointments, and the supervision in between. Time spent caring counts even when it does not feel like a task.
The qualifying benefit link
The person you care for must receive a qualifying disability benefit. For older people that is usually Attendance Allowance, which is why the two claims often go together: Attendance Allowance for the person needing care first, then Carer’s Allowance for the person providing it.
Carer’s Allowance is taxable if your total income is over the Personal Allowance, and it can affect other benefits, both yours and, in some cases, those of the person you care for. That interaction is the one genuine trap in the system, so check the position before claiming, not after.
The earnings limit of £204 a week is calculated after tax, National Insurance and certain expenses, which matters for carers working part time. And even where the payment itself is not worthwhile, claiming can still add National Insurance credits toward your State Pension.
Claims are made at gov.uk/carers-allowance. In Hertfordshire, free advice on the interactions with other benefits is available from HertsHelp on 0300 123 4044.
Separate from any benefit, every carer is entitled to a carer’s assessment from the council, looking at your needs, not just those of the person you care for. In Hertfordshire, carers can also receive direct payments without a financial assessment.
The assessment can lead to practical support: equipment, help at home, or a plan for regular breaks. It is requested through Adult Care Services on 0300 123 4042, and it is worth doing even if you feel you are managing.
Carer’s Allowance recognises the caring, but it does not create the breaks. That is what respite care is for: planned cover so you can rest, work or go away, knowing the care carries on. Where nights are the strain, overnight care shares the load without anyone moving anywhere.
In our experience the carers who last are the ones who accept backup before they are exhausted, not after. Support for you is part of supporting the person you care for.
Common Questions About Carer’s Allowance
How much is Carer’s Allowance?
£86.45 a week, for caring at least 35 hours a week for someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit. Caring for more than one person does not pay extra, and only one carer can claim for the same person.
Can I work and claim Carer’s Allowance?
Yes, if your earnings are £204 a week or less after tax, National Insurance and expenses. There is no savings limit, and the allowance also adds National Insurance credits toward your State Pension.
Does the person I care for need to get Attendance Allowance?
They need a qualifying disability benefit. For older people that is usually Attendance Allowance, though the daily living part of PIP and several other benefits also qualify. Their claim usually comes first, then yours.
Do I need to live with, or be related to, the person I care for?
No. Neither is required. What matters is the 35 hours of care a week and the qualifying benefit.
Will claiming affect the benefits of the person I care for?
It can, in some cases, which is the one genuine trap in the system. Check the interaction before claiming: HertsHelp on 0300 123 4044 offers free advice on exactly this.
What support exists beyond the money?
Every carer is entitled to a carer’s assessment from the council, which can lead to practical support and planned breaks, and respite care provides proper cover when you need time away.
How to Get Started
- Check the person you care for is claiming their own entitlement first, usually Attendance Allowance
- Claim at gov.uk/carers-allowance, after checking the benefit interactions with HertsHelp
- Ask the council for a carer’s assessment, and talk to us about respite when you need a proper break. Call 01727 324 127