Chapter 1: Carer’s allowance

This chapter covers:

1. What is carer’s allowance (here)

2. Who is eligible (here)

3. Amount of benefit (here)

4. Claiming carer’s allowance (here)

5. Challenging a decision (here)

6. Other benefits and tax credits (here)

Basic facts

•Carer’s allowance (CA) is paid to people who care for someone with a severe disability.
•Part-time students are usually eligible to claim.
•Full-time students cannot claim.
•CA is not means tested, but you cannot get it if you work and earn more than £128 a week.
•Getting CA qualifies you for a carer element in universal credit or a carer premium in your income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance and housing benefit.