Carers Allowance
This information is correct as of April 2008.
Two people cannot both qualify for Carer’s Allowance for looking after the same person. You cannot get extra Carer’s Allowance for looking after more than one disabled person.
Carer’s Allowance Unit
Palatine House
Lancaster Road
Preston
PR1 1HB
Tel: 01253 856 123 (textphone 01772 899 489)
This is known as the overlapping benefits rule. Also, if you or your partner receives a dependency addition for you with one of these benefits, the addition cannot be paid at the same time as you receive Carer’s Allowance. This overlapping benefits rule may be of particular relevance for carers over 65, because most people over 65 receive a Retirement Pension, which is an overlapping benefit, Carer’s Allowance will not be paid. However, even if the overlapping benefit rules apply it can still be worthwhile claiming as you may still have an ‘underlying entitlement’.
It has the effect of adding £27.75 a week (carer premium) to Income Support, Pension Credit or Housing and Council Tax Benefit calculations which may mean that someone receives an increased amount of Income Support, Pension Credit or Housing or Council Tax Benefit, or becomes entitled to it for the first time.
The carer premium also continues to be paid for up to eight weeks after the person who is cared for dies. Money off your Council Tax Discounts If you live with the person you care for, and they are neither your partner nor a child under 18 years, you may get a Council Tax discount. Care must be provided for at least 35 hours a week. In addition, the person you care for must be getting one of the following benefits:
If there is more than one carer each providing at least 35 hours care a week, the discount could be higher. You need to contact your local district council to apply for a Council Tax Discount.
This is information on your rights and responsibilities and is to be used as guidance and not legal advice. Information correct as of April 2008.
What is Carer’s Allowance?
Carer’s Allowance is a taxable benefit for carers worth £50.55 a week from the Department for Work and Pensions. You may get extra for your spouse or civil partner, or for your partner if s/he cares for your children.- You don’t need to have paid National Insurance contributions to get it and it is not affected by any savings you may have.
- It can be paid to single people and people in couples—e.g. a man whose partner is working full-time can claim.
- You will be credited with a class 1 National Insurance contribution for each week’s entitlement if you are under 65.
- You can be the parent of a child who has a disability.
- You don’t need to have given up a job to care for the disabled person: it doesn’t matter if you have never worked.
- You do not have to be living with the person you are looking after to be able to get the allowance—you can be caring for a neighbour or friend.
- You do not have to be caring every day.
Who can claim?
You can get Carer’s Allowance if:- You are over 16 years of age, and
- you spend 35 hours or more a week looking after an adult or child (this could be just for weekends), and
- the adult or child gets either Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance or the middle or highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance, and
- you earn no more than £95.00 a week after deducting certain expenses, and
- you are resident in Great Britain and are not subject to immigration control.
Two people cannot both qualify for Carer’s Allowance for looking after the same person. You cannot get extra Carer’s Allowance for looking after more than one disabled person.
Why claim?
If you get Carer’s Allowance or you have an underlying entitlement to it, you may qualify for the carer premium in Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.- If you get Carer’s Allowance or you have an underlying entitlement to it, you will automatically qualify for the £10 Christmas bonus.
- For each week you get Carer’s Allowance or you have an underlying entitlement to it, you can get a National Insurance class 1 credit.
WARNING
If the person you are looking after is claiming the ‘severe disability premium’ with their Income Support, Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit, you must get advice before claiming Carer’s Allowance as the person you care for could lose money.When to claim
Claim Carer’s Allowance straight away if you are caring for a disabled person or a child who has claimed or is getting Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance. You may be refused the money at first if the disabled person’s Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance has not been granted yet. Do not worry. Keep the rejection letter safe and reclaim Carer’s Allowance again when the Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance comes through. Remember ask for the Carer’s Allowance to start from the date the Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance started.Backdating
If you were entitled to Carer’s Allowance before you actually claimed and can show that you meet all the qualifying conditions, Carer’s Allowance will be backdated for up to three months.How long is it paid for?
Carer’s Allowance is paid for as long as the claimant is caring for someone else and continues for up to eight weeks following the death of the person being cared for. Carer’s Allowance can continue to be paid during short breaks from caring.How to claim
Claim on form DS700 (or DS700 (SP) if over 65) from your local Department for Work and Pensions Office or from:Carer’s Allowance Unit
Palatine House
Lancaster Road
Preston
PR1 1HB
Tel: 01253 856 123 (textphone 01772 899 489)
How do other benefits affect Carer’s Allowance?
You cannot be paid Carer’s Allowance while you are receiving the same amount or more from the following benefits:- Incapacity Benefit
- Contribution Based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Widows or bereavement benefits
- Retirement Pension
- Unemployability supplement
- State training allowance
This is known as the overlapping benefits rule. Also, if you or your partner receives a dependency addition for you with one of these benefits, the addition cannot be paid at the same time as you receive Carer’s Allowance. This overlapping benefits rule may be of particular relevance for carers over 65, because most people over 65 receive a Retirement Pension, which is an overlapping benefit, Carer’s Allowance will not be paid. However, even if the overlapping benefit rules apply it can still be worthwhile claiming as you may still have an ‘underlying entitlement’.
Underlying Entitlement
If someone satisfies the criteria for Carer’s Allowance but it is not paid because the person is receiving an overlapping benefit, that person will have an ‘underlying entitlement’ to Carer’s Allowance. This underlying entitlement is very important with regards to claiming Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.It has the effect of adding £27.75 a week (carer premium) to Income Support, Pension Credit or Housing and Council Tax Benefit calculations which may mean that someone receives an increased amount of Income Support, Pension Credit or Housing or Council Tax Benefit, or becomes entitled to it for the first time.
The carer premium also continues to be paid for up to eight weeks after the person who is cared for dies. Money off your Council Tax Discounts If you live with the person you care for, and they are neither your partner nor a child under 18 years, you may get a Council Tax discount. Care must be provided for at least 35 hours a week. In addition, the person you care for must be getting one of the following benefits:
- Attendance Allowance (or Constant Attendance Allowance) at the higher rate, or
- Disability Living Allowance higher rate care component.
If there is more than one carer each providing at least 35 hours care a week, the discount could be higher. You need to contact your local district council to apply for a Council Tax Discount.
Reductions
You may be able to get money off your Council Tax if you use a room in your house specially for the needs of a disabled person, for example if you use a living room as a bedroom, or have a second kitchen or bathroom, or if you have your house adapted so that a wheelchair can be used indoors. You need to contact your local district council to apply for a Council Tax Reduction.Exempt Properties
If you have moved home to care for someone, and you are still billed for Council Tax on your old home, you may be able to get an exemption as long as no-one lives there. You need to contact your local district council to gain exemption.This is information on your rights and responsibilities and is to be used as guidance and not legal advice. Information correct as of April 2008.
Carers Allowance Apr 08.pdf (4 pages, 364kb)
