Carer’s Allowance is worth a total yearly package of £3,624,40, providing a significant boost to a person’s annual income if eligible for the support. However, it remains one of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) most underclaimed benefits – despite millions being entitled to it.
Research from Carer’s UK revealed more than 6.5 million people in the UK are carers, which is a ratio of one in every eight adults.
But according to the House of Commons Library Family Resources Survey, around six percent of the UK population (around 4.2 million people) are providing ‘informal care’, which means they aren’t being paid for it.
With inflation rates hitting a staggering 10.1 percent in September adding further pressure to many Briton’s stretched wallets, it could be worth checking if Carer’s Allowance is applicable.
Paying £69.70 a week, every four weeks, Carer’s Allowance could provide valuable support with rising living costs.
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They must also live in England, Scotland or Wales and earn £132 or less a week after tax, National Insurance, and expenses.
According to the Government website, expenses can include:
- 50 percent of their pension contributions
- Equipment needed to do a job, like specialist clothing
- Travel costs between different workplaces that are not paid for by the employer, such as fuel or train fares
- Business costs if someone is self-employed, e.g. a computer they only use for work
Claimants can also be eligible if they live abroad as a member of the armed forces, or are already in or moving to an EEA country or Switzerland.
Claiming Carer’s Allowance may also impact the benefits of the person being cared for.
They’ll usually stop receiving the severe disability premium paid with their benefits, as well as the extra amount for severe disability paid with pension credit. It may also stop them from getting reduced council tax.
To check the impact that Carer’s Allowance might have on the severe disability payment, claimants are advised to contact whoever pays this benefit, which is usually the person’s local council, Jobcentre Plus, the Pension Service Helpline, or Universal Credit.
If people think they are eligible to claim, they can start an application on the Government website here, or they can call 0800 731 0297 for a form.
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