Denied Carer’s Allowance

Refused Carer's Allowance

About carer’s allowance

Carer’s allowance is a benefit that is offered to people that look after substantially disabled people in their own home. The carer doesn’t need to be related to the person or live with the person, but there are a number of pre-requisites that need to be fulfilled in order to qualify for carer’s allowance which act as a taxable benefit and as such goes towards a person’s taxable income.

Who can get carer’s allowance?

If you are able to fulfil the following criteria, you may be able to qualify for a carer’s allowance payment. You must:

  • Be over 16 years of age
  • Spend a minimum of 35 hours a week caring for a disabled person
  • Ensure that the person being cared for is receiving the higher or middle rate benefits of one of the following; attendance allowance, disability living allowance, constant attendance allowance at the maximum rate with war disablement pension or at the full day rate, armed forces independence payment or personal independence payment
  • Not earn more than £100 per week
  • Not currently be in full time education
  • Have lived in the UK for 2 of the last years and are not subject to immigration control

There may be a case that you do not qualify for carer’s allowance if you currently receive any of the below benefits. If this is the case, the £59.75 per week carer’s allowance rate could be potentially applied to one of the other benefits. The list of benefits that may affect a carer’s allowance claim are:

  • Bereavement Allowance
  • Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance
  • Contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
  • Incapacity Benefit
  • Industrial Death Benefit
  • Maternity Allowance
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • State Pension
  • Training allowance
  • Unemployability Supplement which is paid with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or War Pension
  • War Widow’s or Widower’s Pension
  • Widowed Mother’s Allowance
  • Widowed Parent’s Allowance
  • Widow’s Pension

How much is carer’s allowance?

Carer’s allowance (as of July 2013) is paid at a rate of £59.75 per week and can be paid into a bank account every week in advance, monthly or every 13 weeks.

Receiving carer’s allowance can affect the rate of other benefits being received (positively or negatively) so it is worth discussing this with the benefits office because this area can be quite complex and it is well worth getting the advice of a suitably qualified professional to help you personally through the benefits maze after having gone through your specific situation.

Making a carer’s allowance claim

You are able to make a claim for carer’s allowance by applying online, by telephone or by post.

You can apply online at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/carersallowance/

Telephone applications can be made by telephoning the Carer’s Allowance Unit on 0845 608 4321. The line is open Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm and on Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.

Alternatively forms can be downloaded at https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/how-to-claim and posted.

Please note that it can take 4 to 6 weeks for a carer’s allowance application to be processed and if the claim is rejected wrongly in your opinion you are able to appeal the declined application by completing the form at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gl24-if-you-think-our-decision-is-wrong