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Free Carer’s Allowance checker · 2026/27Carer’s Allowance checker: could you get £86.45 a week?
If you care for someone for 35 hours a week or more, you may be able to get Carer’s Allowance, or Carer Support Payment in Scotland. Answer a few questions to see whether you’re likely to qualify.
- The 2026/27 rules: £86.45 a week, £204 earnings limit
- England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
- Free, and nothing you choose is saved or sent
Last reviewed
Check if you could qualify
Tap an answer to move on. You can go back or start again at any time.
Where do you live?
Scotland has its own version, Carer Support Payment.
Are you 16 or over?
Do you care for someone for 35 hours a week or more?
Time spent with them, helping, supervising or keeping them safe all counts. It can include time spent travelling for them.
Does the person you care for get one of these?
PIP daily living, Attendance Allowance, DLA care (middle or highest rate), ADP daily living, Pension Age Disability Payment, Constant Attendance Allowance or Armed Forces Independence Payment.
How much do you earn a week, after deductions?
Take off tax, National Insurance, half of any pension contributions, and some care costs.
Are you in full-time education?
21 hours or more of supervised study a week.
Do you get State Pension or another benefit?
For example New Style ESA, contribution-based JSA or Incapacity Benefit.
- Whether you’re likely to qualify
- What it’s worth
- What to check before you claim
Carer’s Allowance at a glance.
| Rule | 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Weekly amount | £86.45 |
| Hours of care | 35 hours a week or more |
| Earnings limit | £204 a week, after deductions |
| Age | 16 or over |
| The person you care for gets | PIP or ADP daily living, Attendance Allowance, Pension Age Disability Payment, DLA care at the middle or highest rate, Constant Attendance Allowance or Armed Forces Independence Payment |
| Full-time education | Not usually allowed (some exceptions in Scotland) |
Rates from April 2026. See Carer’s Allowance on GOV.UK.
Their award opens yours.
Carer’s Allowance depends on the person you care for getting a disability benefit. If they were refused, an appeal can change both.
We write their appeal for £49
A mandatory reconsideration or tribunal letter for PIP or Attendance Allowance, written for their case. If they win, you may be able to claim too.
- Reviewed by a former DWP decision maker
- Ready in 48 hours
- You can fill it in for them
- £49 flat, never a percentage
Claim Form Answers
PIP2 or Attendance Allowance AA1 answered for the person you care for, written to match what’s scored. Ready within 24 hours.
Things to check first.
Their extra help
Claiming can reduce extra help the person you care for gets in Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits. What Attendance Allowance Unlocks shows the right order to claim.
If you get State Pension
You may not be paid Carer’s Allowance itself if your pension is the same or more, but claiming can still matter.
Backdating
It can be backdated up to 3 months, or to when their benefit started if you claim within 3 months of their decision.
Universal Credit
Caring 35+ hours can add the carer element to UC, even without Carer’s Allowance.
Tools for your claim.
Carer’s Allowance questions answered.
£86.45 a week. It’s the same for Carer Support Payment in Scotland.
£204 a week after deductions such as tax, National Insurance, half of pension contributions and some care costs.
PIP or ADP daily living, Attendance Allowance, Pension Age Disability Payment, DLA care at the middle or highest rate, Constant Attendance Allowance or Armed Forces Independence Payment.
If your State Pension is the same or more, Carer’s Allowance itself isn’t paid. Claiming can still matter for means-tested benefits, so check before you decide.
No. The 35 hours must be for one person. Only one carer can get Carer’s Allowance for the same person.
It can reduce extra help they get in Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits, so the order you claim in matters. Our What Attendance Allowance Unlocks guide sets it out for pension-age households.
Up to 3 months, or to when their disability benefit started if you claim within 3 months of their award.
No. It’s a guide based on your answers. The DWP or Social Security Scotland decides.
Person you care for refused? Appeal it for £49.
If they win PIP or Attendance Allowance, you may be able to claim too. We write the letter in 48 hours.
This checker is a guide based on your answers. It isn’t a decision or legal advice: the DWP (or Social Security Scotland) decides your claim. Rules and rates from April 2026.