Benefits for Carers
Below is an overview of benefits available to unpaid carers. For more information or to find out if you are entitled to any of them please contact the Welfare Rights Team on welfarerights@pkc.gov.uk or call them on 01738 476900 (Option 1). You may also contact our Adult Carers Support Workers for more information or guidance on your financial maximisation on 01738 567076.
Carer’s Allowance
The main state benefit that carers can apply for is Carer’s Allowance – this is the only benefit specifically for carers, however not all carers will qualify for this benefit. You don’t have to be living with the person you care for or related to them but there are some conditions attached to this benefit, including:
- You must be spending at least 35 hours a week caring for the person.
- The person you care for must be receiving one of the following:
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at middle or highest rate of the care component
- Attendance Allowance (AA), any rate
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) any rate of the daily living component
- Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
- Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic rate with War Disablement Pension.
- You must be aged 16 or over.
- You must be earning less than £128 a week (though some income may not be
- counted).
- You must not be in full-time education or studying for 21 hours a week or more.
- Have been in Scotland/England/Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years.
- You normally live in Scotland/England/Wales or you live abroad as a member of the
- armed forces.
- Not subject to immigration control.
How much is Carers Allowance?
At the moment Carer’s Allowance is £67.25 a week. However before making a claim, always check with the person you are caring for as your claim may affect any means-tested benefits they are receiving.
Please note: The Carer’s Allowance DS700 forms and notes have been updated with new versions. Please ensure you are using the correct forms when making a claim if you are unable to complete the form online. The link below will take you to the correct forms.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement
Carer’s Allowance Supplement (CAS) is an additional payment paid by Social Security Scotland to those being paid Carer’s Allowance. CAS is paid twice a year. There is no application process. The payments will be paid automatically via the same method as your Carer’s Allowance. There are two qualifying dates on which Carer’s Allowance must have been paid, further information can be found on the Scottish Government website.
Young Carer Grant
The Young Carer Grant is a new yearly cash payment of £300 for 16-18 year olds which carers can spend as they choose. Young carers can claim if they are at school, in further education, employed or unemployed and may be eligible if they meet all of the following criteria:
- They live in Scotland
- They are 16, 17 or 18 years of age when applying
- Caring for an average of 16 hours per week, over a 13 week period
- Care for someone normally paid a qualifying disability benefit
- They have not applied for or receive Carer’s Allowance
- They are not paid or volunteer to care
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Please note, that Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people with a long-term health condition or disability aged 16 to State Retirement Age.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is money for people who have extra care needs or mobility needs (difficulty getting around) as a result of a disability.
There are two parts called components, the daily living component and the mobility component. You may qualify for one or both of them.
- You must be 16 or over but under State Retirement Age when you first claim
- If you have a child with an illness, injury or disability see Disability Living Allowance for children. If you are over State Retirement Age, see Attendance Allowance.
- Non-means tested benefit & not taxable
For more information about PIP please visit – www.pkc.gov.uk/pip
Disability Living Allowance for children (DLA)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who:
- Is under 16
- Has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who doesn’t have a disability
They will need to meet all the eligibility requirements.
The DLA rate is between £23.60 and £151.40 a week and depends on the level of help the child needs. It is tax-free and is disregarded as an income for means-tested benefits. If awarded, you can get an increase in Child Tax Credit.
For more information about DLA please visit – www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children
Attendance Allowance (AA)
Attendance Allowance is money for people from State Retirement Age onwards who have care needs. You may have care needs if you need help with activities of daily living such as getting dressed, going to the toilet or having someone to look after your so you do not hurt yourself.
- Attendance Allowance is not means tested, is tax free and is not affected by any income or savings you have.
- It is paid over and above whatever income you already have and can often increase your entitlement to any means tested benefits you may be entitled to.
- You do not have to have someone looking after you to qualify as long as you can show that the help you need is reasonably required.
- Attendance Allowance is normally paid to the disabled person however if someone provides you with care, they may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance for looking after you.
- You have to wait 6 months from when your care needs began before you can get Attendance Allowance unless you are terminally ill and satisfy special rules. If this is the case, Attendance Allowance can be paid straight away at the higher rate.
- If you are under 65 years and have care needs or mobility problems, you will not be able to get Attendance Allowance but may be able to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead.
Attendance Allowance is payable at two rates as follows:
Lower Rate – If you have day time needs only OR if you have night time needs only then you could get the lower rate of Attendance Allowance. This is £55.65 per week from April 2017.
Higher Rate – If you have both day time AND night time needs or satisfy the special rules, you could get the higher rate of Attendance Allowance. This is £83.10 per week from April 2017.
For more information about Attendance Allowance please visit – www.pkc.gov.uk/aa
Carer’s Credit
Carer’s Credits mean carers can be ‘credited’ with Class 3 national insurance contributions to help them qualify for other benefits which they may not otherwise have been eligible for if their caring responsibilities prevented them from being able to work and pay national insurance contributions in the normal way.
Applies to: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales
Age rules: You must be 16 or over but under state pension age
Apply for Carer’s Credit through: Department for Work and Pensions
For more information on Carers Credit please visit – www.gov.uk/carers-credit
For further information and advice on any of the above benefits please email welfarerights@pkc.gov.uk or call them on 01738 476900 (Option 1)
Help with Council Tax
If you live with the person you care for your Council Tax liability may be reduced because:
- You care for the person (please note no carer disregard can be applied if you care for your spouse/partner).
- The person you care for has a severe mental impairment.
- The house you live in has been adapted in a way that would reduce your Council Tax band.
For more information, on the above, click below.
Short Breaks for Carers
You may also be entitled to some time off from your caring role. For more information, check our Short Breaks section or click here.
