If you care for someone living with dementia, you may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance. Eligibility depends on a number of factors, including how much you earn, whether you are in education and which benefits the person you care for receives. The allowance can affect other benefits you or the person with dementia currently receive, and your entitlement may change if your circumstances change. If you live in Scotland, an equivalent benefit called Carer Support Payment is available instead.
Carer’s Allowance is a benefit for people who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with an illness or disability – which often includes caring for someone with dementia. It can be paid weekly or every four weeks.
‘Care’ includes helping the person with tasks such as (but not limited to): washing and personal care, cooking, attending medical appointments, and household tasks like managing finances and shopping.
As of 6th April 2026, Carer’s Allowance is paid at £86.45 per week. This amount usually changes annually in April, so it is important to check the latest rates. Carer’s Allowance is not means-tested.
The person you care for needs to receive one of the qualifying benefits in order for you to receive the Carer’s Allowance. Many people with dementia receive the qualifying benefits for Carer’s Allowance. If this is the case and you also fit the other eligibility criteria, you will be able to get the Carer’s Allowance. You do not have to be related to the person you care for, nor live with them.
The eligibility criteria for the Carer’s Allowance cover the benefits received by the person you care for, the number of hours you care for them, your age, how much you earn and whether you are in education.
You can claim Carer’s Allowance if the person you care for receives one of the following benefits:
As a carer, you must spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone.
As a carer, you must earn £204 or less a week after tax, National Insurance and allowable expenses. Allowable expenses are:
Please note that the maximum earnings for eligibility may change — so be sure to check the latest figure.
As a carer, you must not be in full-time education, or studying for 21 hours a week or more.
As a carer, you must be 16 or over.
You must also normally live in England or Wales, or live abroad as a member of the armed forces, and have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least two of the last three years (this does not apply if you are a refugee or have humanitarian protection status). You must not be subject to immigration control.
Read more about eligibility for Carer’s Allowance at gov.uk
Carer’s Allowance can be backdated by up to three months. When you apply, you will be asked questions about the care you have provided during that time.
Carer’s Allowance can only be paid to one person at a time. This means that if you share your caring responsibilities with another person, only one of you can claim.
Yes, supervision counts as care when it comes to claiming the Carer’s Allowance. There is no strict definition of what care involves. It might be sitting with someone or supervising them in daily activities to make sure they stay safe.
You may still be able to claim Carer’s Allowance if you are retired. However, you cannot receive the full amount of State Pension and the Carer’s Allowance at the same time.
Money you receive from an occupational or private pension does not count as earnings and therefore does not affect your eligibility for Carer’s Allowance.
If your State Pension is £86.45 per week or more, you will not qualify for Carer’s Allowance. If your State Pension is less than £86.45 per week, you will receive a smaller amount of Carer’s Allowance to make up the difference.
If you get £86.45 a week or more from your State Pension, you will not be able to claim Carer’s Allowance. However, your Pension Credit payments will increase instead.
If you get less than £86.45 a week from your State Pension, you will be able to claim Carer’s Allowance to cover the difference and make the total amount you receive from both £86.45.
In England and Wales, you should apply online if possible. If you cannot apply online or would like a paper form, please call the Carer’s Allowance Unit from Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm on 0800 731 0297.
In Scotland, there is an alternative to Carer’s Allowance called Carer Support Payment: please see below for more information.
In Northern Ireland, you should also apply online if possible. If you cannot apply online or would like a paper form, please call the Disability and Carers Service on 0800 587 0912 or email belfastcastlecourt.caenquiries@dcfni.gov.uk.
You will need to have the following personal information to hand to apply for the Carer’s Allowance:
You will also need some details about the person you care for:
During the Carer’s Allowance application, you will be asked about:
Fill in the application form on the gov.uk website
If you are rejected for Carer’s Allowance and you disagree with the decision, you can request that it be reviewed — a process known as mandatory reconsideration. This service is free of charge and can be requested if:
In most cases, you will need to make your request within one month of the decision date, though exceptions can be made for valid reasons such as hospitalisation or bereavement. Bear in mind that some decisions cannot be reconsidered, while others may be taken straight to appeal — your original decision letter will indicate if either of these applies to your situation.
If you are still unhappy with the decision after mandatory reconsideration, you can appeal the benefits decision at a tribunal. You submit an appeal in writing and then have a hearing with a judge.
Learn more about appealing a benefits decision on the gov.uk website
Other benefits that you receive may be affected if you receive Carer’s Allowance, but the total you receive will usually go up or stay the same. For example:
The benefits of the person you care for may also be affected if you claim Carer’s Allowance. They will usually stop getting any severe disability premium paid with their benefits, and any extra Pension Credit that they receive for having a severe disability. You should contact the benefits provider to find out if this is the case: this is usually Jobcentre Plus, their local council, the Pension Service helpline or Universal Credit.
The person with dementia may also stop getting any Council Tax reduction that they qualify for – please contact their local council to find out if they will be affected.
Some areas will provide council tax discounts for carers who provide care for over 35 hours a week. Find out more on the Carers UK website.
Your entitlement to Carer’s Allowance may stop if your circumstances change – for example if:
It is very important to report any changes that may mean your Carer’s Allowance should stop – if you do not, you may have to repay any money that you received since your circumstances changed.
In Scotland, Carer’s Allowance has been phased out and replaced by an equivalent benefit called Carer Support Payment. There is little difference between the two – it simply means that the benefit is now paid by Social Security Scotland rather than the Department for Work and Pensions.
If you live in Scotland are not already claiming Carer’s Allowance, you will need to apply for Carer Support Payment instead
If you live in Scotland and do currently claim Carer’s Allowance, you will be moved to the new benefit automatically.
Carer Support Payment is payable at the same rate as Carer’s Allowance — £86.45 per week.
The eligibility criteria for the Carer Support Payment in Scotland are almost the same as for the Carer’s Allowance, but you must also live in Scotland to receive the Carer Support Payment.
Another slight difference is around studying. If you are aged 16, 17, 18 or 19 and spend 21 hours or more a week studying, there are exceptional circumstances where you can get Carer Support Payment when you are studying for particular courses.
Learn more about studying and the Carer Support Payment at mygov.scot
You can apply for Carer Support Payment:
Find more information and apply for the Carer Support Payment at mygov.scot
Carer’s Credit covers any gaps in National Insurance that occur as a result of caring for someone. This means that you can take on caring responsibilities without it affecting your State Pension.
State Pension is reliant on you having worked and paid National Insurance for 10 years. If you do not meet this criterion because you have been caring for someone with dementia (for example, if you have had to leave work), Carer’s Credit fills the gap so you can still claim your State Pension.
Carer’s Credit is not a direct payment and is not means-tested.
In England, Scotland and Wales, download the Carer’s Credit claim form or request a copy by post by calling 0800 731 0297.
In Northern Ireland, apply online. If you cannot apply online or would like a paper form, please call the Disability and Carers Service on 0800 587 0912.
If you already receive Carer’s Allowance or Child Benefit for a child under 12, you do not need to make a claim as Carer’s Credits will be applied automatically.
To speak to a dementia specialist Admiral Nurse about Carer’s Allowance or any other aspect of dementia, call our free Helpline on 0800 888 6678 (Monday-Friday 9am-9pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-5pm, every day except 25th December) or email helpline@dementiauk.org.
If you prefer, you can pre-book a phone or virtual clinic appointment with an Admiral Nurse.
Worried about the financial impact of a dementia diagnosis? From benefits to care costs, our Admiral Nurses can help you plan ahead and guide you through your options.
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