National Insurance credits
If you get Carer's Allowance and are of working age, you automatically get a Class 1 national insurance credit each week. Class 1 credits give you a better deal than other credits, for example, with later claims for Incapacity Benefit or Retirement Pension.
If you don't get Carer's Allowance, your pension rights can be protected by Home Responsibility Protection (HRP) (external link).
You may be entitled to HRP if you are at home for a tax year looking after someone and you are not paying national insurance contributions.
If you get Child Benefit or Income Support as a carer, the HRP will be worked out automatically. Otherwise, get a claim form and leaflet NP27 from your local Jobcentre Plus office or from the Pension Service.
Signing On?
Carers age under 60 can get Income Support - rather than having to sign on as unemployed and claim Jobseeker's Allowance - whilst looking after someone who gets, or has applied for, Attendance Allowance or the middle or higher care rate of Disability Living Allowance.
Young carers, aged 16 or 17, can also claim Income Support through this route.
Single parents with a child aged 15 or under don't have to sign on. If you are age 60 or over, you can claim Pension Credit.
Other carers age under 60 years must usually sign on as available for work and claim Jobseekers Allowance, rather than Income Support.
Help starting work?
If you come off certain benefits because you or your partner start work or work more, you may still get paid the same help for four weeks with:
- Mortgage interest
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Benefit
You can get this 'run on' if:
- You or your partner got Income Support or Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance for six months or more.
- The work is for at least 16 hours a week.
- You expect the job to last at least five weeks.
You can also get the 'run on' of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit if you got Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance for six months or more.
Please also find out about the new Working Tax Credit.
If the person you care for doesn't get a disability benefit or your circumstances change
If the person you care for finds their claim for Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance is unsuccessful, you will be refused Income Support as a carer. But you might still be able to get a reduced rate of Income Support if you can show that you or your family will suffer hardship. Get advice.
If the person you care for comes off their disability benefit, your Income Support / Carer's Premium continues for 8 weeks. But, your Carer's Allowance stops.
If the person you care for dies, Carer's Allowance continues for 8 weeks after the death.
As a carer, if you go into hospital, Carer's Allowance stops after 12 weeks.
Sick or disabled yourself?
Caring can take its toll on your health. You may be able to get a higher rate of Income Support if you care for a close relative and are not fit for work. This can apply even if you never worked.
To get the higher rate due to sickness - called the Disability Premium - you need to be unfit for work for at least 12 months. If you get a disability benefit, you may be able to get the Disability Premium straight away.
If you claim Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit, you may be able to get them increased if you meet the rules for a Disability Premium.
If you have worked in the past and you have the right national insurance contributions or credits, you may be able to get Incapacity Benefit. Carers are not restricted by rules on recent work, which affected other claimants from April 2001. Note that you would not get Incapacity Benefit on top of Carer's Allowance - you will get whichever benefit is higher.
Respite care or hospital stays
Disability benefits usually stop after 28 days in residential care or hospital. Frequent shorter stays for respite care may be added together to count towards the 28 days. However, careful planning may help with keeping the disability benefits. This is complex, so please get advice.
If the person you care for is in hospital for 4 weeks, Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance usually stops. Carer's Allowance stops, but Carer's Premium continues for 8 weeks.
Need more help? Live in Manchester? Send us an email or book an appointment with the Online Adviser
Back to Carers and benefits summary page
Need more help? Live in Manchester? Send us an email
Information Provider:
Manchester Advice
This information is for guidance only and is not an authoritative statement on the law. Please read our Terms and Conditions.
FeedbackDid you find this page useful? Yes or No