Carer's Allowance 2020: How much you can get and how to claim the amount

Ali KhanNov 06, 2020Business

If a person provides care for someone who gets certain benefits for at least 35 hours a week, it may be the care-giver can claim Carer’s Allowance. Currently, the rate is £67.25 per week.

Eligibility rules state that the care doesn’t need to be for someone the individual is related to or lives with, in order to qualify for the payment.

However, it is important to be aware that only one person can claim Carer’s Allowance for the recipient of the care.

As such, if someone else also cares for the same person, only one would be able to claim.

Furthermore, it’s not possible to get paid extra if a person cares for more than one person.

Who is eligible for Carer’s Allowance?

To get Carer’s Allowance, the caregiver must provide care for a person for at least 35 hours per week.

The latter person must already receive one of the following benefits:

Personal Independence Payment – daily living component
Disability Living Allowance – the middle or highest care rate
Attendance Allowance
Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
Armed Forces Independence Payment.

DON’T MISS

There are several examples given by the government of the forms of care which counts towards the 35 hours per week.

These include helping with washing and cooking, taking the person one cares for to a doctor’s appointment, and helping with household tasks such as managing bills and shopping.

In situations in which either party has been affected by coronavirus, it’s still possible to claim Carer’s Allowance if the care has been provided remotely.

This includes giving emotional support over the phone or online.

Prior to claiming Carer’s Allowance, one must be aware that it can impact the other benefits both the caregiver and the person being cared for receives.