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Carer’s Allowance is a benefit to help people who look after someone who is disabled. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.

You can claim Carer’s Allowance if you are aged 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a person getting Disability Living Allowance at the middle or highest rate for personal care.

You can’t claim Carer’s Allowance if you are in full-time education with 21 hours or more a week of supervised study or earn more than £84 a week after certain deductions have been made (such as Income Tax).

The weekly rate is £46.95, which is taxable. (February 2007) This is reduced by the amount of certain other benefits, including State Pension, that you receive. If you receive certain other benefits at £46.95 or more a week, Carer’s Allowance cannot be paid to you as well.

You may be able to get an additional amount for your husband, wife or civil partner or someone living with you who looks after your dependent children.

How to claim

1) You can ask for a claim form over the telephone, by contacting your local benefits office.

2) You can also claim online: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/carersallowance/

3) The Carer’s Allowance Unit can send you a claim form:

Their address is Carer’s Allowance Unit, Palatine House, Lancaster Road, Preston, PR1 1HB

Telephone: 01253 856 123

You can ring these numbers between 9am and 5pm Monday to Thursday and between 9am and 4.30pm Friday.

You may be entitled to a reduction in your Council Tax if you are caring for a disabled person.

You may be entitled to a Council Tax reduction if you are a carer and you:

• live in the same property as the person you are caring for
• provide at least 35 hours a week of care

Also, the person you care for must have one of the following:

• higher rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance
• higher rate of Attendance Allowance
• an increased Disablement Pension
• an increased Constant Attendance Allowance

The above information is taken from the DirectGov site.