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Nearly £1.3bn of Carer's Allowance is unclaimed

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Almost 400,000 people caring for friends or relatives are missing out on their Carer’s Allowance entitlements.

The benefit is worth £64.60 a week, meaning some carers are losing out on as much as £3,359.20 a year. Last year, almost £1.3 billion was unclaimed.

Caring for someone is a huge responsibility and research shows that carers are disproportionately socially and economically vulnerable – so it is vital that carers check if they are missing out.

You are entitled to Carer's Allowance if:

  • You care for 35 hours a week or more
  • You do not earn more than £120 a week
  • The person you care for receives Attendance Allowance, the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) middle or highest rate care component or Armed Forces Independence Payment.

Meet Julie

Julie was working in a hospital when she suddenly had to stop work due to poor health. She quickly found herself struggling with money.

While Julie could no longer return to work, she was still caring for her elderly mother.

She went to her local Citizens Advice for financial help and they gave her the Turn2us phone number.

When Julie phoned Turn2us, she found that she had been missing out on Carer’s Allowance the whole time she had been caring.

Julie now receives Carer’s Allowance. She said: “I’ve now got enough money to keep my head above water”.

David Samson, Welfare Benefits Projects Manager at Turn2us, said:

“Many carers may have completely given up their working and personal lives to care for friends and family. Carers Rights Day is a crucial time to highlight the scale of people missing out.

“Carer’s Allowance is there to be claimed. We implore anyone who cares for over 35 hours a week to do a benefit check to see what their entitlements are.”