If you have not paid enough national insurance contributions to get a state pension of at least £81.90 a week, it can be topped up to that figure with carer’s allowance or carer support payment (CSP).

Pension credit is a means-tested benefit for older people (see Chapter 45). If you claim carer’s allowance or CSP and it cannot be paid because your state pension is higher, an ‘additional amount for carers’ is still included in your pension credit award.

If you are disabled, you may be eligible for attendance allowance, personal independence payment or adult disability payment even though you are caring for another person (see Chapters 4 , 5 and 6 ).