The carer's allowance is paid to those in full time care for another person. Below we'll go over what this is and how to understand if you qualify
Requirements
The main factor is that you must spend a minimum of 35 hours a week caring for someone with a disability in some way. You also cannot apply for this if you are in full-time education.
The person you are caring for should be in receipt of:
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance of at least the standard maximum amount
- Disability Living Allowance (this must be paid to at least the middle rate or higher regarding the care element)
- Constant Attendance Allowance of at least the full day (otherwise known as the basic) rate.
Another requirement is that you must not receive more than £128 a week in earnings from any job, or jobs, you currently have. This figure is worked out after deductions for income tax and National Insurance are taken away. This does not include income received from pensions that are related to an occupation or received privately.
Make sure you read the up to date requirements for this as they may have changed.
Things that don't matter
- Whether or not you are a family member of the person you are caring for;
- Whether you live in the same property as the person you care for;
Can you apply at any time?
The above requirements need to be met and if the person you are caring for does not already receive the above allowance then they will need to apply for these first and then have been notified that the relevant benefit will be paid to them.
Besides this you should apply as soon as possible as soon as you know you meet the requirements because you should be able to receive backdated payments if you have been caring for a disabled person for that period. You must claim within three months of the relevant payment being made to the disabled person that you care for, otherwise you might miss out on the backdated payments where relevant.
