Carer’s Allowance of unpaid carers could be missing out on £279 each month | Personal Finance | Finance
Some 500,000 people are estimated to be missing out on the benefit which could top up their income. 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).
As the cost of living crisis continues, and energy bills soar, many families on low incomes may be feeling the financial squeeze.
Britons are urged to make sure they are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to.
Who is eligible?
Claimants need to be caring for someone for 35 hours or more a week.
An individual, the person they care for and the type of care they provide must meet a certain criteria.
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Additionally, 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
Claimants 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.
On the Government website, it states that expenses can include:
- 50 percent of their pension contributions
- Equipment needed to do a job, for example specialist clothing
- Travel costs between different workplaces that are not paid for by the employer, for example fuel or train fares
- Business costs if someone is self-employed, for example a computer they only use for work
The type of care being provided can include help with washing and cooking, taking the person being cared for doctor’s appointments and helping out with household tasks such as managing bill and shopping.
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Half a million people are estimated to be missing out on Carer’s Allowance which could top up their income by £69.70 per week – £3,624.40 over a year.
Carers can then choose if they would like to be paid weekly in advance or every four weeks with the money being paid straight into their bank account.
Under the “overlapping benefits” rules, people are not entitled to receive Carer’s Allowance if they claim certain other benefits.
These included the contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and Maternity Allowance.
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Before someone applies for Carer’s Allowance, they should make sure that they have their National Insurance number, bank or building society details and employment details if they’re working or their P45 if they’ve recently finished 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 have received the extra payment £245.70 in April.
The next payment is due to be paid in October.
