Carer's Allowance when your child gets DLA

If your child gets the middle or highest rate of the DLA care component and you spend at least 35 hours a week looking after them, you may be able to get Carer's Allowance. It is £86.45 a week in 2026/27.

Who can get it

All of these need to apply:

• you are 16 or over
• you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for your child
• your child gets the middle or highest care rate of DLA (or Child Disability Payment in Scotland)
• you are not in full-time education or studying for 21 hours a week or more
• your earnings are £204 a week or less after tax, National Insurance and certain expenses
• you have been in the UK for at least 2 of the last 3 years and are not subject to immigration control

Caring includes the ordinary things that fill a week: washing, dressing, cooking, appointments, supervision and keeping your child safe.

Only one person can claim Carer's Allowance for the same child, and you do not get more for caring for more than one child. If two parents share the caring, you can choose which of you claims.

The earnings rule, in plain terms

The £204 a week limit is after deductions, not your gross pay. You can deduct half of any pension contributions and some work costs. If you pay someone to look after your child while you work, you can treat up to half your earnings as a care expense, as long as that person is not your partner or a close relative. Some families just over the line find they qualify once these are counted.

What it means for the rest of your money

Carer's Allowance counts as taxable income, so you may pay tax on it if your total income is over the Personal Allowance. It can also affect other benefits your household gets, so it is worth checking before you claim.

For each week you get Carer's Allowance you automatically get National Insurance credits, which protect your State Pension. If you care for your child at least 20 hours a week but cannot get Carer's Allowance - for example because you earn too much or study - you may still get Carer's Credit, which gives the same National Insurance protection without the weekly payment.

Scotland

In Scotland you apply for Carer Support Payment instead of Carer's Allowance. If you move from England or Wales to Scotland, tell DWP and make a new claim there.

How to claim

In England and Wales, apply online on GOV.UK, or call the Carer's Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) to ask for a form. You can choose to be paid weekly in advance or every 4 weeks.

In Northern Ireland, Carer's Allowance is claimed through the Disability and Carers Service: apply online via nidirect, or ask them for a form on 0800 587 0912.

In Scotland you apply for Carer Support Payment instead, as above.

Our benefits guide explains how Carer's Allowance fits with DLA, Universal Credit and the other support your family might claim.