Carer's Allowance: how to claim £81.90/week for caring

Carer's Allowance is worth **£81.90/week** (£4,259/year). Around **1 million unpaid carers** in the UK may be eligible but aren't claiming.

Who qualifies?

You can claim if you:

Important: the earnings limit

The earnings limit of £151/week (net) catches many carers out. However, you can deduct:

This means your gross earnings can be higher than £151 while your net stays below.

What about other benefits?

Carer's Allowance and Universal Credit

If you get UC, Carer's Allowance is treated as income — but you get a **Carer Element** (£198.31/month) added to your UC, which usually means you're better off overall.

Carer's Allowance and working

You can work and claim Carer's Allowance as long as your net earnings stay under £151/week. Part-time work is compatible.

National Insurance credits

Even if you earn too much for Carer's Allowance, you may get **National Insurance credits** through Carer's Credit — protecting your State Pension.

How to claim

Additional support for carers