If you are getting certain social welfare payments and you are providing full-time care and attention to another person, you can keep your main social welfare payment and get a half-rate Carer’s Allowance as well.
If you are in one of the following situations you may qualify for half-rate Carer's Allowance:
If you are getting Carer's Allowance and you also meet the qualifying conditions for another social welfare payment (for example, a State pension) you should apply for the other payment. If you qualify for the other payment you will be paid it in full and keep half your Carer’s Allowance payment as well. (For a list of social welfare payments paid with half-rate Carer's Allowance - see 'Rules' below)
If you are currently getting Carer’s Allowance and your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is claiming another social welfare payment (for example, Jobseeker’s Allowance), your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant may claim an increase in their social welfare payment for you as a qualified adult and your Carer’s Allowance will be reduced by 50%. This can only be done with your consent but it may increase your total household income.
If you were on another social welfare payment before claiming Carer's Allowance, you may get your original payment reinstated and also get half-rate Carer's Allowance, if you continue to meet the qualifying conditions for both schemes. (For a list of social welfare payments payable with half-rate Carer's Allowance - see 'Rules' below)
If your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is claiming for you as a qualified adult on their payment and you are providing full-time care to another person, you can apply for half-rate Carer's Allowance and keep your current Increase for a Qualified Adult in full.
If you are getting one of the social welfare payments payable with half-rate Carer's Allowance (see 'Rules' below) and caring for someone, you may keep your social welfare payment and qualify for half-rate Carer’s Allowance.
People parenting alone, who meet the qualifying criteria for Carer's Allowance, may qualify for both One-Parent Family Payment (OFP) and half-rate Carer’s Allowance (CA). If your youngest child is aged between 7 and 15 inclusive, you must qualify for Carer's Allowance to continue to qualify for OFP. You will also get an Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) for any other children in your family until they reach 18 (or 22 if in full-time education) while you are getting CA and OFP. (See our page on One-Parent Family Payment for more information on other exceptions to the age limits.)
You must meet the qualifying criteria for Carer’s Allowance. For example, the person you are caring for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and you must satisfy a means test. There is more information in our page about Carer’s Allowance.
If you satisfy the conditions for Carer’s Allowance, it will be awarded at 50% of the rate that would apply if you were not getting any other payment. You will also be eligible for the Carer's Support Grant and a Free Travel Pass. You may also be eligible for the Household Benefits Package.
The half-rate Carer’s Allowance is disregarded in the means test for Fuel Allowance.
You cannot get Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) or Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) and half-rate Carer's Allowance because you must be actively seeking employment and be available to take up employment to qualify for JA and JB. However, you may qualify for half-rate Carer's Allowance if your spouse, civil partner or cohabitant is getting JA or JB and claiming for you as a qualified adult.
If you satisfy the conditions for Carer’s Allowance it will be awarded at 50% of the rate that would apply if you were not getting any other payment.
Maximum half-rate Carer’s Allowance rates 2024
Half-rate Carer’s Allowance
Under 66
Age 66 and over