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© 2026. The Purpl Co Limited. All rights reserved.
9 min read
Written by
Georgina, Founder of Purpl
Published on
March 17, 2025
Across the UK, around 5.7 million people act as carers, supporting a loved one who is older, disabled, or seriously ill. In Northern Ireland, carers may be entitled to specific financial support such as Carer’s Allowance Northern Ireland.
According to Carers UK, “A carer is a person of any age who provides unpaid care and support to a family member, friend or neighbour who is disabled, has an illness or long-term condition, or who needs extra help as they grow older.”
Carer’s Allowance is a vital financial benefit for people who spend a significant amount of time looking after someone with care needs. In Northern Ireland, Carer’s Allowance has the same purpose as in the rest of the UK but may have differences in application routes, eligibility requirements, and how it interacts with other local benefits.
Purpl accepts no responsibility for the content of third-party websites and cannot guarantee that all these services mentioned may be able to help. Please note that situations and funding change from time to time. Purpl offer this information to be helpful and in good faith.
Carer’s Allowance is a taxable benefit designed to provide financial support for carers who provide at least 35 hours of care per week for someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit. It helps unpaid carers who might otherwise struggle financially due to their caregiving responsibilities. The allowance provides recognition of the essential role carers play in supporting the healthcare system by enabling people with disabilities or illnesses to remain in their own homes.
As of the 2024/2025 tax year, Carer’s Allowance is paid at a rate of £81.90 per week.
Carer’s Allowance is available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you live in Scotland, you need to apply for Carer Support Payment instead of Carer’s Allowance.
Eligibility for Carer’s Allowance is determined based on several factors, including your circumstances, the amount of care provided, and the benefits received by the person being cared for. The main criteria include:
Applying for Carer’s Allowance is a straightforward process. You can apply online through the UK government website if you live in England or Wales. Alternatively, if you live in Northern Ireland, you can apply online through the NI government website. In addition, you also have the option to complete a paper application form if that is easier for you.
If you live in Scotland, you need to apply for Carer Support Payment instead of Carer’s Allowance.
The key steps include:
Don’t forget to check if claiming Carer’s Allowance could affect the benefits of the person you care for, such as their Severe Disability Premium. It’s always worth getting a full benefits check to maximise support!
Georgina’s Disability Tips
Claiming Carer’s Allowance can affect the benefits of you, your partner and the person you care for.
It is essential to understand these impacts before applying:
Carers have certain rights and responsibilities when receiving Carer’s Allowance:
If you take breaks from caring (for example, due to illness or holiday), you may still receive Carer’s Allowance for up to 4 weeks. Always report any changes in your circumstances promptly to avoid overpayments or disruptions in your benefit.
Georgina’s Disability Tips
If you provide care for at least 20 hours a week but do not qualify for Carer’s Allowance, Carer’s Credit is available. This National Insurance credit helps protect future entitlement to the State Pension by filling gaps in the National Insurance record.
Eligibility for Carer’s Credit requires providing care for someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit. Unlike Carer’s Allowance, there is no earnings limit, and it does not affect other benefits.
You do not need to apply for Carer’s Credit if you:
Apply using the Carer’s Credit claim form. The form includes a Care Certificate – ask a health or social care professional to sign it for you.
The government periodically reviews Carer’s Allowance to reflect changes in the economic environment and the needs of carers. Recent discussions have focused on:
Carers are holding families together, enabling those they care for to get the most out of life, making an enormous contribution to society and saving the economy billions of pounds. Yet many are stretched to the limit – juggling care with work and family life, struggling to make ends meet and often battling with poor health themselves.
Carers UK
Despite the support Carer’s Allowance provides, many carers face significant challenges:
Financial Hardship
Firstly, the weekly amount of Carer’s Allowance is often too low to cover basic living costs. As a result, many carers experience ongoing financial hardship.
Mental and Physical Health
In addition, the constant demands of unpaid caregiving can lead to stress, burnout, and serious health problems. Over time, this can have a lasting impact on both mental and physical wellbeing.
Lack of Recognition
Finally, many carers feel that their contributions are undervalued. Limited access to carer support services and a lack of recognition leave carers feeling overlooked despite the vital role they play in society.
If you’re eligible for Carer’s Allowance, make sure you’re also claiming any additional benefits or premium entitlements you may qualify for, such as the Carer Premium, Carer Addition, or Carer Element in Universal Credit. These extra amounts can boost your income without affecting your Carer’s Allowance.
Georgina’s Disability Tips
Respite care is temporary care that allows a carer to take a much-needed break while the person they support is looked after by someone else. In addition, it gives carers time to rest, focus on their own health, and manage personal needs. As a result, respite care helps prevent feelings of overwhelm, exhaustion, and burnout, making it easier to continue providing long-term support.
The main types of respite care are:
Your local council or local carers’ centre can give you information about local support.
Find your local authority adult social care services (England only) and here you can find your nearest carers’ service
Your mental and emotional health is important. Remember on an airplane, you are told to put your own oxygen mask on first before helping someone else. This is because if you are too unwell to care for yourself, you cannot help anyone else.
Georgina’s Disability Tips
If you disagree with a decision about Carer’s Allowance, you can challenge a decision about your claim – this is called ‘mandatory reconsideration’ and it is free to ask for.
You can ask for mandatory reconsideration if any of the following apply:
Ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date of the decision. You can ask for it after one month, but you need to have a good reason, for example if you’ve been in hospital or had a bereavement.
To ask for mandatory reconsideration, you need to contact the benefits office that gave you the decision. You can contact them:
The contact details are on your decision letter.
In addition to Carer’s Allowance, a variety of free resources and services are available to support carers in the UK:
Carer’s Allowance is a key benefit that supports unpaid carers across the UK who dedicate their time to looking after loved ones. Therefore, understanding the eligibility criteria, the application process, and the impact on other benefits is essential for maximising the financial support available.
At the same time, there is still significant scope for improvement. For example, increased financial support, higher earning thresholds, and better access to health and social care services would greatly benefit carers. Furthermore, as the government continues to review its policies, it is vital that the voices and lived experiences of carers remain central to any future reforms.
Ultimately, supporting carers also means strengthening the UK’s wider healthcare system and society. By ensuring carers receive adequate financial, emotional, and practical support, the country can build a more compassionate, fair, and resilient community for everyone.
Georgina is the founder of Purpl Disabled Discounts, she understands the financial challenges that come with living with a disability as she has MS and ADHD. She is on a mission to help the disabled community save money through discounts on everyday products and services, as well as creating a place to support every person living with a disability in the UK. You can read her story about why she launched Purpl and her ultimate goal of launching a foundation to give grants to disabled people in the UK
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