Care and support

What is carer’s allowance?

Carer’s allowance (CA) is a weekly benefit you can get if you are looking after a disabled person for at least 35 hours a week. The disabled person must be getting attendance allowance or either of the two highest rates of disability living allowance (care).

You can get CA if you are married or single, a man or a woman, or retired. You do not have to be a relative of the disabled person or live at the same address. You do not need a national insurance contribution record to get CA. Your savings and your income are ignored (although there is an earnings rule – see below). Your partner’s income (including earnings) has no effect on your right to CA. However CA taxable and counts as income for means tested benefits.