Life With MND
Carers' Allowance
Carers' Allowance is the main benefit available for carers.
You can get Carers' Allowance if:
- you look after someone for at least 35 hours each week
- the person you look after gets Attendance Allowance or the middle or higher rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance
- you are aged 16 or over, not studying for more than 21 hours a week, don’t earn more than £84 a week from work (after some deductions), and you satisfy UK residence and immigration rules
If you are getting State Retirement Pension, Incapacity Benefit, Bereavement Benefit or any other ‘earnings replacement’ benefit of more than the rate of Carers' Allowance, you cannot get Carers' Allowance. However, you could have ‘underlying entitlement’ to Carers' Allowance, which can help you to get more money from other benefits (e.g. an extra amount of Income Support or Pension Credit), so it is still worth claiming.
NB: Sometimes, if you are paid Carers' Allowance, the person you care for may lose some of their benefit. If you are unsure, seek further advice.
