Carer's Allowance

What is it?

Carer's Allowance is a benefit for carers of people who are severely disabled. You may have to pay tax on it.

Am I eligible?

The person you're caring for must be getting one of the following benefits.

• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest rate care component
• Constant Attendance Allowance (at or above the normal maximum rate as part of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, or the basic (full-day) rate as part of a War Disablement Pension.)

If the person you care for is being paid one of the benefits above, you might be entitled to Carer's Allowance if you:

• are aged 16 or over
• provide care for that person for at least 35 hours each week
• are not on a full-time course of further education (full-time means 21 hours or more of supervised study each week)
• are present in Great Britain (and have been for at least 26 of the last 52 weeks) and are not under immigration control, and
• do not earn more than a set amount

What are the benefit rates?

Carers Allowance £53.10

What do I need to do next?

 More information can be found in the Carer's Allowance leaflet.

You can also visit www.direct.gov.uk/carers for more information or to claim online.

What else you need to know

If you receive Carer's Allowance and move to another country in the European Economic Area or Switzerland, you may continue to receive it under certain circumstances.

Taking disability benefits to other European countries

If you are already living in another European Economic Area country or Switzerland, you may be able to claim Carer's Allowance under certain circumstances.

Claiming disability benefits if you live in another European country