Carer’s Allowance: Eligibility, rates, overpayments | 2026

Everything you need to know about Carer’s allowance, eligibility and how to claim it.

At a glance

Carer’s Allowance: Pays £86.45 a week to people providing at least 35 hours of care each week for someone receiving a qualifying disability benefit.

Eligibility: You must be 16 or over, not be in full-time education, and earn less than £204 a week (from April 2026).

Carer Support Payment: This is gradually replacing Carer’s Allowance in Scotland.

Overpayments: On 25 November 2025, the DWP announced it would review Carer’s Allowance overpayments caused by unclear guidance and may reduce, cancel or refund debts dating back to 2015.

What is Carer’s Allowance?

Carer’s Allowance is paid to people who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who is claiming certain benefits.

To be eligible, you must be 16 or over and not in full-time education.

How much is Carer’s Allowance in 2026/27?

In 2026/27, Carer’s Allowance will go up from £83.30 a week to £86.45 a week.

This is £345.80 a month.

From April 2026, carers can get £4,495.40 a year.

The Carer’s Allowance earnings threshold, which is the maximum amount a carer can earn and still be eligible for the benefit, will also see a rise from £196 to £204.

How much can I earn and claim Carer’s Allowance?

Unpaid carers who care for someone for at least 35 hours a week are able to earn up to £204 a week from April 2026 and still claim Carer’s Allowance.

You have to pay tax on Carer’s Allowance if your combined income is over the Personal Allowance of £12,570. This is after deductions for tax, National Insurance and other allowable expenses have been made.

On its own, Carer’s Allowance is below the threshold for paying tax.

Am I eligible for Carer’s Allowance?

To qualify for Carer’s Allowance, you need to care for someone at least 35 hours a week. This means they would not be able to carry out everyday tasks without your help and support. The type of help you provide can include support with washing and preparing meals, taking the person you care for to a doctor’s appointment and helping with things like bills and shopping.

If you’re unsure whether you qualify, it’s still worth checking the eligibility criteria, particularly the rules around caring hours, earnings and the benefits received by the person you care for.

To qualify for Carer’s Allowance you must:

• Spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone. You do not need to live with them or be related.
• The person you care for receives a qualifying disability benefit
• Be at least 16 years old
• Not earn more than £204 per week after tax, national insurance and 50 per cent of what you pay into your pension
• Have been living in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland for a minimum of two of the last three years
• Normally live in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Or live overseas as a member of the armed forces, or living in or moving to another EEA country or Switzerland
• Not be in full-time education or studying 21 hours per week or more
• Not be subject to immigration control

The person you care for must be receiving one of these benefits

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – daily living component
• Disability Living Allowance – the middle or highest rate of the care component
• Attendance Allowance
• Adult Disability Payment – daily living component
• Child Disability Payment – middle or highest care rate
• Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the maximum rate with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic rate with a War Disablement Pension
• Armed Forces Independence Payment

Carer’s Allowance overpayment review

On 25 November 2025, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced that unpaid carers who were overpaid Carer’s Allowance due to unclear government guidance will have their cases reviewed. Many may see their debts reduced, cancelled, or refunded.

All earnings-related overpayment cases from 2015 through summer 2025 will be reassessed.

This action follows the independent Sayce Review, which found that unclear rules regarding fluctuating earnings often left carers unsure about which income changes to report. As a result, many carers unknowingly exceeded the weekly earnings limit and accumulated debt.

Carers impacted by unclear rules

The government has acknowledged that carers were “let down” by these unclear rules and states it is addressing the issue as part of its Plan for Change.

If new calculations determine the original overpayment was too high, carers will have their debts reduced or cancelled. Refunds will be issued where repayments have already been made.

Can you get Carer’s Allowance if you receive State Pension?

Once you reach State Pension age, which is currently 66, you can begin to receive the State Pension. When you start receiving the State Pension, you can no longer get Carer’s Allowance.

This is because they are overlapping benefits. This means you qualify for both at the same time but can only get one.

However if you are otherwise eligible for Carer’s Allowance, it will give you an ‘underlying entitlement’. This entitlement may mean you get extra money with any means-tested benefits you claim, such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit.

If you are under State Pension age, you will also get National Insurance credits each week towards your pension.

If you receive Pension Credit you may be able to get an increase in payments if you qualify for Carer’s Allowance.

What is the Carer Premium / Carer Element?

Other benefits that count as overlapping benefits meaning you can no longer get Carer’s Allowance but you can get an ‘underlying entitlement’ are:

• Contributory Employment and Support Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit
• Maternity Allowance
• Bereavement or Widow’s Benefits
• Severe Disablement Allowance
• Universal Credit

This ‘underlying entitlement’ is also known as the Carer Premium or Carer Element.

Can you claim Carer’s Allowance for more than one person?

You are only allowed to claim this benefit for one person. If you care for more than one person you will not be paid any extra money.

You cannot combine the hours you spend caring for different people to reach the 35-hour requirement

Do you have to live with the person you care for to claim Carer’s Allowance?

The person you are caring for can be a relative, a friend or a neighbour. You do not have to live with them to claim Carer’s Allowance.

But you must be caring for them at least 35 hours a week.

What happens if the person you are caring for dies?

If the person you are caring for dies, you can continue to get Carer’s Allowance for up to eight weeks.

It can be hard enough coping emotionally when someone close to you dies, but there are many admin tasks after someone dies that can be overwhelming both mentally and practically.

If you are living in England, Scotland or Wales, you can use the Tell Us Once service. This enables you to inform several government organisations at the same time about the death of a person.

How do you claim Carer’s Allowance?

If you feel that you meet all the requirements listed above, you may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance.

The claim can be backdated up to three months as long as you meet the requirements.

Before you make a claim, make sure you have the below on hand (if applicable).

Your details:

• Your National Insurance Number (and your partner’s)
• Bank or building society details
• If you are working: Employment details and your latest payslip
• Your P45 if you have recently finished work
• Details of the course you are studying
• Details of any expenses, such as pension contributions.

Details of the person you care for:

• Date of birth
• Their address
• National Insurance number if they are aged 16 or over
• Disability Living Allowance if they are under 16

To apply for the benefit if you are in England and Wales, visit the UK government’s website. Or you can call 0800 731 0297 for a claim pack.

If you are in Northern Ireland, apply online here or call 800 587 0912.

Carer Support Payment is replacing Carer’s Allowance in Scotland

Carer’s Allowance is being replaced in Scotland by Carer Support Payment.

Social Security Scotland pays Carer Support Payment which is being rolled out across Scotland in phases. The process of transferring carers over to receiving the Carer Support Payment began in February 2024.

If you are in Scotland and you get Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment, you may be able to get Carer’s Allowance Supplement.

This is a lump sum of £293.50 you can get twice a year.

Next steps

• Check eligibility and earnings limit: Work at least 35 hours per week and keep net earnings below £204 after allowable deductions such as pension contributions.
• Gather required documents: Collect a National Insurance number, recent payslips, bank details, and personal details of the person receiving care before starting the application.
• Submit application or check regional support: Apply through GOV.UK (England, Wales, Northern Ireland). In Scotland, use Social Security Scotland to apply for Carer Support Payment.

FAQs