Hi, my name is south28! Can my son claim carers allowance for looking after me?

If you or your partner care for someone who claims a disability benefit you or your partner may be entitled to Carer's Allowance. If you are claiming Universal Credit you may be entitled to the Carer's Element.

To claim Carer's Allowance you must:

• Be aged 16 or over;

• Spend at least 35 hours a week looking after the person in need of care;

• Have net earnings of less than £132 a week, from April 2022. Any childcare costs or replacement care costs associated with working can be deducted from your earnings when calculating whether you qualify. For more information see work-related costs and Carer's Allowance;

• If you are in full-time education, to be entitled you must spend less than 21 hours in 'supervised study', and not doing a course described as full-time by the college or establishment providing it.

In addition, the person for whom you care must be claiming (or waiting to hear about):

• Attendance Allowance,

• Disability Living Allowance (middle or higher rate for personal care),

• 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.

• Personal Independence Payment (Daily Living Component at either Standard or enhanced rate).

You must be over 16 to claim but there is no upper age limit. The person you care for can be anyone, including a relative. It can be paid to more than one person in a household, such as a couple caring for each other.
To claim the Carer's Element of Universal Credit the eligibility rules are the same as for Carer's Allowance, but there is no earnings limit involved. Also, if you are receiving a Limited Capability for Work element  (LCW or LCWRA) in your Universal Credit the same person can't get the Carer's Element as well, whichever element is highest will be awarded. 

If the person you are caring for gets a means-tested benefit they may lose their severe disability premium if you start claiming Carer’s Allowance (this does not apply if you are eligible but not receiving any money) or the Universal Credit Carer's Element. For more information see disability premiums in benefits.