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What is Carer's Allowance?
There are 5.7 million unpaid carers in the UK*, supporting vulnerable people every single day. We understand the time, energy, and financial strain that caring can bring. That’s why we’re here to help ease the pressure — whether you’re a carer yourself or someone receiving care.
To provide even more support, TSB partners with Carers UK, a leading charity dedicated to improving the lives of unpaid carers. Together, we offer access to expert guidance, practical resources, and emotional support to help you feel more confident and connected in your caring role.
It’s important to know that Carer’s Allowance could help you. It’s a benefit from the government that supports people who spend a lot of time looking after someone with a disability or long-term health condition.
And you might be entitled to it – even if you don’t think of yourself as a carer.
If you regularly help a friend or family member, it’s worth checking if you could get some extra support.
Who can get Carer’s Allowance?
To claim Carer’s Allowance, you need to meet some simple criteria:
- You must be at least 16 years old
- Live in the UK
- Care for someone for at least 35 hours a week
- Earn less than £196 a week (after tax and allowable expenses)
- Not in full-time education
- The person you care for gets a qualifying disability benefit
If you’re wondering what the criteria is for a Carer’s Allowance, that’s it. You don’t have to be related to the person or live with them. You can read more about the eligibility for Carer’s Allowance here.
How much is Carer’s Allowance?
As of April 2025, Carer’s Allowance is £83.30 a week.
That’s just over £4,300 a year – and it could make a real difference if you’re spending time caring for someone.
It’s important to know that Carer’s Allowance is a taxable benefit. So if you already pay tax, it could affect how much you owe.
It might also affect other benefits you or the person you care for receives – especially if you’re getting things like Universal Credit, State Pension or income-based benefits.
Before you apply, it’s worth checking how it could affect your finances overall. You can get free, expert advice from places like Citizens Advice or MoneyHelper.
You can choose to be paid either:
- Weekly in advance
- Every four weeks
It will be paid into an account, for example your bank account.
Use a benefits calculator to work out how your other benefits will be affected.
How to claim Carer’s Allowance
You can apply online at GOV.UK. Before you start, make sure you’ve got the following to hand:
- Your National Insurance number
- Details about your income
- The National Insurance number and benefits of the person you care for
- Any recent payslips or a P45 if you've stopped working
Claims can be backdated by up to 3 months, so don’t worry if you’ve already started caring. You can also check your eligibility using the Turn2Us benefits calculator.
Managing your allowance
It’s important to report any changes in your circumstances – like if:
- You start earning more than the weekly limit
- You stop caring for 35 hours or more a week
- The person you care for goes into hospital or moves into a care home
If anything changes, it’s a good idea to let the Carer’s Allowance provider know.
This could be things like your income going up, or spending fewer hours caring each week.
Keeping them up to date helps make sure you’re getting the right support – and can avoid any overpayments that might need to be paid back later.
If you’re not sure what counts as a change, it’s always worth asking. They’re there to help, and happy to talk things through.
Is there other support if you're not eligible?
If you find you’re not eligible for Carer’s Allowance, there may still be other ways to get support.
For example, Carer’s Credit can help protect your National Insurance record, which could be important for your future.
And in some cases, having what’s known as an underlying entitlement might mean you can get more from income-based benefits like Housing Benefit or Pension Credit.
It’s always worth exploring your options!
You can find out more through Carers UK.
How TSB can help
We know that caring for someone can be both rewarding and challenging – and sometimes it can take its toll, emotionally and financially.
That’s why we’re here to offer support when you need it most. This includes:
- Support for carers – including account access for trusted family members
- Payment holidays on loans or mortgages if money becomes tight - speak to a Money Confidence Expert to find out what options are available.
- Dedicated help if you’re being cared for and need extra support
If you’re finding things difficult, get in touch or visit our Help and Support page.
*Figure from CarersUK
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