Benefits for carers

Carer's Allowance

This is a benefit for people who provide at least 35 hours of care per week to someone who is receiving Attendance Allowance or the Care Component of the Disability Living Allowance at the middle or higher rate.

Because the ‘care week' runs from Sunday to Saturday, you could still be entitled to Carer's Allowance even if your 35 hours of care takes place only at the weekends. You do not need to be related to or living with the person you are looking after. Parents of children who have sight impairments are eligible to claim for Carer's Allowance.

You can claim Carer's Allowance for looking after someone else even if you get Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance because you have a disability.

You may be eligible for Carer's Allowance

• If you are aged 16 or over

• So long as you are not in full time education (21 hours or more of supervised study)

• And, if you are employed, you are not earning more than £95 per week (after tax, national insurance contributions and 50% of any payments to an occupational pension)

Read more about Carer's Allowance on RNIB's website
Read the Government's information on Carer's Allowance

Claiming for Carer's Allowance

• To request a Carer's Allowance claim pack, call the Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 88 22 00 Claim forms are also available in accessible formats such as Braille and large print

• You can also claim online

• Or you can download a Carer's Allowance claim form from the Department for Work and Pensions website

• If the person you are caring for has put in a claim for DLA or Attendance Allowance, you can wait for the decision about their claim to be made before making your claim for Carer's Allowance. If your claim is successful, your entitlement to Carer's Allowance will start from the same date as their entitlement starts for DLA or Attendance Allowance

• Carer's Allowance can be backdated for up to three months on request

Important: because Carer's Allowance is usually counted as income when assessing entitlement to other means tested benefits, you should contact RNIB's helpline before making a claim to be sure you will not lose out on other benefits.

Other benefits for Carers

Carers between the ages of 16 and 59 are one of the groups of people who are able to claim Income Support to top-up a low income (which may also include the Carer's Allowance). For the purposes of Income Support a Carer is someone who is regularly caring for someone who has a disability who receives Attendance Allowance or the Middle or Higher rate of the Care Component of Disability Living Allowance.

Please note that if you are receiving Income Support, once you reach the age of 60 your Income Support can be replaced by Pension Credit. This is a benefit for people who are aged 60 or over and who are on a relatively low income.

Please click here to read more about Pension Credit

Please click here to read more about Income Support for Carers