Allowances for
older carers


CARE CORNER

By David Summers
Chairman & Group Ethics Director
david.summers@sjpp.co.uk

More and more of us find ourselves looking after each other if we are already the older generation or looking after our parents and other elderly relatives if we haven’t yet reached that age ourselves.

I hope the following information is a useful reference point for you to check whether there is any help that you can claim from Government if you are in a caring for someone situation.

Please think of these different options as allowances, not benefits… remember you have likely paid Income tax and national insurance for many years and these are all ways that the Government is willing to help in different circumstances.

BENEFITS FOR CARERS WHO ARE OVER STATE PENSION AGE

Most carers who have attained state pension age will be in receipt of a state pension, but there might be other benefits that could be claimed, including Carer’s Allowance, Pension Credit, Support for Mortgage Interest, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction (Rate Relief in Northern Ireland).

This checklist gives basic information about each of these, plus details of where to go to get further information, and a space to record whether eligibility has been checked.

You may also be eligible for support from your local council, but to qualify you will need to have a carer’s assessment. This is for carers over 18 years old who are looking after another adult who is disabled, ill or elderly. The assessment will look at your physical, mental, and emotional needs, and whether you are able or willing to carry on caring.

For further information on Carers Assessment from Carers UK
If you live in England:
www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/practical-support/carers-assessment
If you live in Northern Ireland:
www.carersuk.org/ni/help-and-advice/practical-support/carers-assessment
If you live in Scotland:
www.carersuk.org/scotland/help-and-advice/practical-support/carers-assessment
If you live in Wales:
www.carersuk.org/wales/help-and-advice/practical-support/carers-assessment

The following benefits apply to England, Wales and Scotland, unless identified below as applicable to one country only. For Northern Ireland, go to: www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/benefits-and-money/benefits-and-financial-support * Benefits marked with an asterisk are available to carers irrespective of whether they have reached state pension age.
  • BENEFIT
  • Blue Badge Parking*     




  • Carer’s Allowance     


















  • Carer’s Support Payment(Scotland only)     



  • Carer’s Allowance Supplement(Scotland Only)     









  • Carer’s Credit     









  • Carer’s Premium     








  • Cinema Exhibitors’ Association Card*     




  • Council Tax Reduction     















  • Housing Benefit     








  • Pension Credit     










  • Support for Mortgage Interest     








  • GUIDANCE & FURTHER INFORMATION
  • A blue badge parking permit allows drivers who have passengers with mobility issues to park in more convenient locations, such as disabled parking bays. You can also park on single or double lines for up to three hours.

    For further information:www.gov.uk/blue-badge-scheme-information-council
  • While there is no upper age limit for claiming Carer’s Allowance, you cannot receive the full amount of both Carer’s Allowance and your State Pension at the same time. This is because Carer’s Allowance and State Pensions are classed as ‘overlapping benefits’.

    However, you might still be able to get some extra money in recognition of your caring role due to having what’s known as an ‘underlying entitlement’ to Carer’s Allowance instead.
    This might mean you could get:
    • The carer premiums in Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support
    • The extra amount for carers in Pension Credit
    • The carer element of Universal Credit.

    Also, if your State Pension is less than Carer’s Allowance (£83.30 per week FOR 2025/26) you can get the difference paid as Carer’s Allowance. For example, if your State Pension is £50 per week you can get £33.30 per week in Carer’s Allowance.

    For further information:www.gov.uk/carers-allowance
  • Carer Support Payment has replaced Carer’s Allowance for carers in Scotland. It will pay the same rate as for Carers Allowance (see above).

    For further information: www.mygov.scot/carer-support-payment
  • The Carer’s Allowance Supplement was introduced in 2018 to meet the Scottish Government’s commitment to increase Carer’s Allowance to the level of Jobseeker’s Allowance.

    Carer’s Allowance Supplement is only payable to carers who live in Scotland. It will be paid as a lump sum twice a year to people in receipt of Carer’s Allowance on the qualifying date.

    For further information:www.carersuk.org/scotland/help-and-advice/financial-support/carer-support-payment-1/carer-s-allowance-supplement-in-scotland
  • If you’re unable to work because of caring responsibilities, and therefore can’t make National Insurance payments, Carer’s Credit helps build your entitlement to the basic State Pension by making sure there are no gaps in your National Insurance record.

    If you already get Carer’s Allowance, there’s no need to make a separate application for Carer’s Credit – if you’re entitled to credits you should get them automatically. If not, you can apply for Carer’s Credit by phone or online.

    For further information:www.gov.uk/carers-credit
  • You might be entitled to an additional Carer Premium if you already get:
    • Income Support
    • Universal Credit
    • Housing Benefit
    • Council Tax Support
    • Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
    • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

    For further information:www.mariecurie.org.uk
  • This card entitles you to one free ticket when you take the person you’re caring for to the cinema. You can apply for the card online, and all national cinema chains accept it.

    For further information:www.ceacard.co.uk
  • If you meet all the following criteria as a carer, you will be treated as a ‘disregarded person’ and be eligible for a reduction in council tax: • You provide care for at least 35 hours a week. • You live in the same property as the person you care for. • You are not the spouse or partner of the person you care for, or their parent if you care for a child under 18. The person you care for must receive one of these: either the middle or higher rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance (only the higher rate in Scotland), the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment at any rate (only the enhanced rate in Scotland), Attendance Allowance at any rate (only the higher rate in Scotland), Armed Forces Independence Payment or the highest rate of Constant Attendance Allowance.

    For further information:
    www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/financial-support/help-with-household-finances/council-tax-rate-relief
    www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction
  • Housing Benefit is designed to help people on a low income with their rent payments. Housing Benefit is means-tested so it depends on your (and any partner’s) income and capital. Since 15 May 2019, if you’re in a couple you’ll only be eligible to receive Housing Benefit if either: • You and your partner have both reached State Pension age, OR • One of you reached State Pension age and started claiming Housing Benefit or Pension Credit (for you as a couple) before 15 May 2019.

    For further information:www.gov.uk/housing-benefit
  • Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit for people who have reached state pension age and who have income and capital below a certain amount. Currently if you are in a couple and you are both over State Pension age, you can claim Pension Credit if your income is low enough. Since 15th May 2019, if only one of you is over state Pension age, you won’t be able to claim Pension Credit and will have to claim Universal Credit instead. Being eligible for Pension Credit could also help you get other benefits too – for example, It’s unlikely you’ll have to pay Council Tax (unless other people live with you who are expected to pay council tax).

    For further information:www.gov.uk/pension-credit
  • Before 5th April 2018 you could have had some help with your mortgage interest payments through Support for Mortgage Interest. This was a benefit paid to your mortgage provider as part of your Guarantee Pension Credit award. Anyone who was already getting Support for Mortgage Interest or who makes a new claim for a means-tested benefit and has an outstanding mortgage, since 6th April 2018 will be offered Support for Mortgage Interest as a loan instead of a benefit payment.

    For further information:www.gov.uk/support-for-mortgage-interest
    • SJP Approved: 10/10/2025