Half a million carers missing out on allowance of £3,440 – here’s how to claim
ALMOST half a million people could be missing out on carer's allowance worth nearly £3,440 a year.
That's according to charity Turn2Us, which reckons 440,000 carers across the country are missing out on a combined £1.5billion of benefits every year.
Under carers allowance, those who care for someone on certain benefits for at least 35 hours a week can get paid £66.15 a week (£3,439.80 a year).
You can choose to be paid weekly in advance or every four weeks, with the cash going straight into a bank account.
As the carer, you don't have to be related to or live with the person you care for but they will need to get certain benefits, such as the daily living component of personal independent payment or disability living allowance.
See for a full list of eligible benefits.
What if I don't qualify for carer's allowance?
IF you don't qualify for carer's allowance you might be able to get carer's credit instead.
This is available if you're caring for someone for at least 20 hours a week.
You have to be aged 16 or over and under state pension age, and the person you're caring for must be on certain benefits - see for the full list.
Credits aren't paid in cash but instead they're a national insurance credit that helps with gaps in your national insurance record.
This is important because how much you eventually get - if anything - from the state pension is .
To apply, download and send back the .
You don't need to apply if you get carer’s allowance or child benefit for a child under 12 as you’ll automatically get credits, and if you are a foster carer you should instead.
Unfortunately, you don't get paid extra if you care for more than one person, and as the carer you have to be 16 or over, out of full time education and not studying for 21 hours a week or more.
As the carer, your income must also be under £123 a week (£6,396 a year) after tax, national insurance and certain workplace expenses such as pension contributions up to 50 per cent and equipment.
To apply, just enter your details on - you'll need your national insurance number and other information to hand, as well as the details of the person you care for.
Just be aware that claiming can affect your other benefits and mean they are reduced, although it doesn't count towards the government's overall benefit cap.
You can use to work our what you might be entitled to and how it could affect your other benefits.
If you disagree with a decision over carer's allowance, you've got one month to dispute it by asking the benefits office that gave you the decision for a .
Sara Willcocks, head of communications at Turn2us, said: “Most carers give up their working and personal lives to care for family or friends.
"Carer’s allowance is there to be claimed but so many are missing out. We implore anyone who cares for someone for more than 35 hours a week to do a benefit check and see what their entitlements are.”
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson says information on carer’s allowance is widely available, including online through Gov.uk and to those who visit Jobcentres.
It adds that organisations supporting carers also make information available.
More on benefits
It comes as new research reveals that 3.4million disabled pensioners are missing out on up to £4,558 a year in benefits.
While over 3million on benefits and Universal Credit are missing out on a £1,200 Help to Save scheme.
Plus, here's how to check you’re not missing out on thousands of pounds in benefits and Universal Credit.