Benefits for carers

You might not think of yourself as a carer. But you probably are if you're looking after someone regularly, including your spouse or a family member, because they're ill or disabled.

As a carer, you may be entitled to one or more state benefits to help you with the costs.

Carer's Allowance

Carer's Allowance is the main state benefit for carers.

You can get it if you after someone for more than 35 hours a week.

Carer's Credit

A National Insurance (NI) contribution to help make sure you don't lose out on some social security benefits, such as the State Pension, because of gaps in your NI record.

You can get it if you look after someone for more than 20 hours a week and you don't get Carer's Allowance.

How to claim Carer's Credit

Disability Living Allowance for children

You can get it if you're the parent carer of a disabled child.

How to claim Disability Living Allowance for children

Check what benefits you can get

Check if you're entitled to Carer's Allowance and other benefits with the entitledto benefits calculator.

Use the entitled to benefits calculator

Get a carer's assessment

As a carer, you may be eligible for support from your local council. Before you receive any help from your local council, you need to have a carer's assessment.

Find out how to get a carer's assessment

How to challenge a benefit decision

You can challenge a benefit decision if:

your benefit payment is stopped
your claim for a benefit is refused

Find out how to challenge a benefit decision