Carer’s Allowance: Unpaid carers could be missing out on £292 a month – are you eligible? | Personal Finance | Finance
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Unpaid carers can receive up to £292 a month yet almost half a million people are missing out. Britons are being reminded to check that they are receiving all the benefits they are entitled to especially now with the cost of living hitting a 30 year high.
This extra cash boost could be a lifeline to people struggling to meet the rising cost of living and energy bills.
Carer’s Allowance is available to Britons who look after someone for 35 hours or more a week.
As long as a carer’s earnings are £128 or less a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses, they should qualify for the extra help.
To qualify, however, the person they are caring for needs to be on certain benefits.
READ MORE: DWP update: Millions of pensioners could be missing out on £4,660 due to common mistakes
There are six groups that qualify for carer’s allowance.
The person being cared for must already get one of these benefits:
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – daily living component
• Disability Living Allowance – the middle or highest care rate
• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Child Disability Payment – the middle or highest care rate
To find out how much a carer can receive, they can find out on the Government website by putting in their details.
Britons can claim the cash boost if they help someone with washing and cooking.
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Other tasks include taking them for doctor’s appointment and helping with household tasks, such as managing bills and shopping.
If Britons share caring responsibilities with someone else, only one person from the team can claim the allowance.
As circumstances are forever changing, Britons are urged to try again if they have been rejected previously.
Additionally, unpaid carers may be eligible to claim an extra £164 a month outside of Carer’s Allowance.
In 2021–22, Carer’s Allowance was £67.60 a week.
People might be able to claim it if they:
• spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone
• are aged 16 or over
• aren’t in full-time education or studying for 21 hours a week or more
• earn £128 (2021–2022) a week or less (after tax, National Insurance and expenses).
If weekly take home pay is more than £128 (2021–22) after deductions, people are no longer entitled to Carer’s Allowance.
If people earn more than this in any given week, it’s important to tell the DWP.
If they don’t, they will be asked to pay back the amount they were overpaid.
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