How to claim Carer's Allowance and keep earning from a part-time job
Key points
- You can earn up to £204 a week net from a paid job and still receive £86.45 a week in Carer's Allowance — roughly £4,495 a year in support
- You qualify if you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who gets a qualifying disability benefit such as PIP or Disability Living Allowance
- The government opened a call for evidence on 7 July 2026 to reform the earnings rules — you can share your views until 18 August 2026
If you look after a family member, friend, or neighbour who is ill or disabled, you may be entitled to Carer's Allowance. It is a weekly payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that many carers do not realise they can claim — especially if they also have a part-time job.
What Carer's Allowance pays
Carer's Allowance pays £86.45 a week. That works out to about £4,495 a year.
It is not means-tested. Your savings and household income do not affect whether you qualify. The only financial test is whether your earnings from work are too high.
Who can claim
You can claim if all three of these apply:
- You are 16 or over.
- You spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who is ill or disabled.
- The person you care for receives a qualifying disability benefit.
Qualifying benefits include:
- the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at either rate
- the middle or higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- certain other disability benefits — the full list is on GOV.UK
You do not have to live with the person you care for. You do not need to be related to them.
How much you can earn from work
You can still claim Carer's Allowance if you have a paid job. You just need your net earnings to stay at or below £204 a week.
Net earnings means your take-home pay after tax, National Insurance, and allowable expenses — including pension contributions or childcare costs you pay in order to go to work.
If your earnings go over £204 in a particular week, you will not receive Carer's Allowance for that week.
Search for your next property on DSSmove →What the government is consulting on
On 7 July 2026, the government opened a call for evidence on how to reform the earnings rules. It closes on 18 August 2026.
At the moment, earning £1 over the weekly limit means you lose the full £86.45. The government is asking whether a gradual taper — where the payment reduces slowly as earnings rise — would be fairer for carers whose hours or pay change week to week.
If you want to share your experience, you can respond via the GOV.UK website.
How to apply
You can apply for Carer's Allowance online at gov.uk/carers-allowance. You will need your National Insurance number and the disability benefit reference for the person you care for.
If you are already on Universal Credit, check whether you also qualify for the UC carer element — an extra amount added to your Universal Credit each month for carers. Citizens Advice can help you compare your options and make sure you are getting everything you are entitled to.
Frequently asked questions
What if my earnings change from week to week and I am not sure whether I am over the limit?
If your pay varies, DWP can work out an average over a set period — contact Citizens Advice for free help checking whether your net earnings stay under the £204 weekly limit.
Does claiming Carer's Allowance affect my Universal Credit payment?
Yes — Carer's Allowance is counted as income in your Universal Credit, which can reduce it. But you may also qualify for the UC carer element, which adds money on top of your Universal Credit each month. Citizens Advice can help you work out which combination is best for your situation.
Official source: https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance