Carer’s Allowance: Certain benefits could stop you claiming £279 each month – check now | Personal Finance | Finance
Britons could get this extra cash each week if they care for someone at least 35 hours a week. People can choose to be paid weekly in advance or every four weeks.
Carer’s Allowance is one of the main welfare benefits to help carers in the UK and is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
A person must not earn more than £132 a week from employment or self-employment, this is after deductions for income tax, National Insurance and for expenses.
Some 500,000 people are estimated to be missing out on the benefit which could top up their income by £69.70 per week – £3,624.40 over a year.
However, these payments could be stopped if a carer claims certain other benefits.
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This is because of the “overlapping benefits” rule.
This means that if a person is getting more than the amount of Carer’s Allowance from another benefit, then they cannot be paid Carer’s Allowance.
It includes the state pension, contributory Employment and Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, and Maternity Allowance.
People also cannot claim if they receive Bereavement or widow’s benefits, Severe Disablement Allowance, or contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.
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If their pension is less than £69.70 a week, they’ll get a Carer’s Allowance payment to make up the difference.
More information about how to apply for the support can be found on the Government website.
The website states people may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance if they, the person they care for, and the type of care they provide meet certain criteria.
The person being cared for must already get one of these benefits:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – daily living component
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) – the middle or highest care rate
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
One does not have to be related to or live with, the person they care for.
This could mean a cash boost of almost £279 each month.
The DWP says that before applying, people will need to make sure they have their:
- National Insurance number
- Bank or building society details (unless they get state pension)
- Employment details and latest payslip
- P45 if they have recently finished work
- Course details if they are studying
- Details of any expenses, for example, pension contributions or the cost of caring for children or the disabled person while at work.
Those in Scotland are able to receive the Carer’s Allowance Supplement which is an extra payment for those who receive their allowance on a certain date and is paid twice a year.
Around 90,000 carers across Scotland received the extra payment of £245.70 in April. The next payment is due to be paid in October.
