TL;DR
Carer's Allowance is the main benefit for people who care for someone for at least 35 hours a week. For 2026/27 it is worth £86.45 a week. The person you care for must receive a qualifying disability benefit, and your own earnings after deductions must be no more than £204 a week. It is taxable, gives you National Insurance credits, and can affect the benefits of the person you care for, so it is worth checking before you claim.
Last reviewed 30 June 2026
What Carer's Allowance is
Carer's Allowance is the main benefit for unpaid carers. For 2026/27 it is worth £86.45 a week. It is paid to people who spend a significant amount of time caring for someone with a disability or long-term health condition. It is not means-tested in the usual sense, because your savings do not matter, but there is a strict earnings limit, and it interacts with several other benefits.
The 35-hour rule
To qualify, you must care for someone for at least 35 hours a week. The care can include practical help, supervision, and tasks such as cooking, washing and managing medication or appointments. You can only claim Carer's Allowance for one person, and if you share caring for the same person with someone else, only one of you can claim. You do not have to be related to or live with the person you care for.
The qualifying benefit
The person you care for must receive a qualifying disability benefit. These include the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment, the middle or highest care rate of Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Armed Forces Independence Payment and Constant Attendance Allowance. If they do not receive one of these, you cannot get Carer's Allowance, although you may be able to get Carer's Credit to protect your State Pension instead.
The earnings limit
Carer's Allowance has an earnings limit. For 2026/27 you cannot get it if you earn more than £204 a week after certain deductions, up from £196 in 2025/26. Allowable deductions include income tax, National Insurance, half of any pension contributions, and some care costs that allow you to work. The limit is a cliff edge: earning even slightly above it means losing the whole payment for that week, which is why reporting earnings accurately matters.
Carer's Allowance and the State Pension
Carer's Allowance overlaps with the State Pension under the rule against being paid two earnings-replacement benefits in full. If your State Pension is more than the Carer's Allowance rate, you cannot be paid Carer's Allowance on top, although you may keep an underlying entitlement that can increase other means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit. If your State Pension is less, you may receive the difference.
National Insurance and tax
While you receive Carer's Allowance you are credited with National Insurance contributions, which help protect your State Pension. Carer's Allowance is taxable, although many carers pay no tax on it because their total income is within the personal allowance. If you have other taxable income, the combination could create a small tax liability.
Effect on the person you care for
Claiming Carer's Allowance can affect the benefits of the person you care for. If they receive a severe disability premium or the severe disability addition with their means-tested benefits, that can stop once you are paid Carer's Allowance or the carer element of Universal Credit for them. It is important to check the overall effect on the household before claiming, ideally with an adviser.
How to claim, and the overpayment issue
You claim Carer's Allowance through the DWP, online or by post. You will need details of yourself, the person you care for, and your earnings. Carers should report changes in earnings or caring hours promptly, because the cliff-edge earnings rule has historically led to large overpayment debts where small overshoots went unreported. The government has reviewed these cases, but the safest course is to keep earnings records and tell the DWP about any change quickly.
Related guides
Disclaimer: This article is general information and not financial or welfare advice. Rates and rules are set by the DWP and can change each April. Because Carer's Allowance interacts with other benefits, check the effect with a free adviser such as Citizens Advice or Carers UK before claiming. Figures are from the GOV.UK source below.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Carer's Allowance in 2026/27?
It is £86.45 a week.
How many hours do I need to care?
At least 35 hours a week, for one person who receives a qualifying disability benefit.
What is the Carer's Allowance earnings limit?
For 2026/27 you cannot get it if you earn more than £204 a week after allowable deductions.
Can I get Carer's Allowance and the State Pension?
If your State Pension is higher than the Carer's Allowance rate, you cannot be paid both in full, but you may keep an underlying entitlement that can boost means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit.
Does claiming Carer's Allowance affect the person I care for?
It can. If they get a severe disability premium or addition, that may stop once you are paid Carer's Allowance or the Universal Credit carer element for them.
Does Carer's Allowance give National Insurance credits?
Yes. While you receive it you are credited with National Insurance contributions that protect your State Pension.
