People under the age of 67 who provide unpaid care for a loved one are being urged to check if they qualify for Carer's Allowance, a benefit worth £86.45 per week. BBC finance expert Iona Bain highlighted that around 5.8 million people in the UK are carers, and many may be missing out on this support.
Eligibility and impact on state pension
For those below state pension age, claiming Carer's Allowance can also boost their future state pension through National Insurance credits. However, Bain cautioned about potential interactions with other benefits: "There are lots of intricacies and complexity with Carer's Allowance in terms of how that might impact the benefits of the person who you are caring for."
She added: "This is for all the brilliant people out there who are caring for folks, who are unpaid or informal carers. We're talking about an estimated 5.8 million people in the UK... Don't be afraid to get the help."
Who can claim?
Carer's Allowance is available to those aged 16 or over who provide care for at least 35 hours per week to someone receiving certain DWP benefits, such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA). Claimants must also earn no more than £204 per week after tax.
Bain emphasised the importance of NI credits: "For every week of Carer's Allowance that you get, you also get National Insurance credits and this will go towards making sure that you get your full state pension entitlement. And that is so important because people who care for others have to take time out of work and this can mean that they might drop out of the system."
Backdating and misconceptions
Carer's Allowance can be backdated by up to three months, with different rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Bain also clarified what counts as caring: "You don't need to be related to the person that you are caring for. You don't need to be living with them. You could be a close friend or a neighbour who's providing that hands-on support."
She explained that caring includes helping with washing, dressing, cooking, managing bills, or shopping. "Caring encompasses so many different roles, it can take on so much. So if you think that you're doing quite a lot of that work and support for somebody in your life, definitely worth looking into whether you're eligible for Carer's Allowance."
Further details are available on the Gov.uk website, and Carers UK offers assistance for those looking to claim.
