Carer’s Allowance is the main benefit for people who provide substantial care to a disabled or ill person. Here are the rates for the 2026/27 tax year.
Carer’s Allowance Rate 2026/27
| Amount | |
|---|---|
| Weekly rate | £81.90 |
| Annual total | £4,258.80 |
| Payment frequency | Weekly or every 4 weeks |
This rate applies from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027.
Who Qualifies
To receive Carer’s Allowance, you must:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Care hours | 35+ hours per week |
| Person you care for | Receives PIP daily living, DLA middle/highest care, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance, or Armed Forces Independence Payment |
| Your age | 16 or over |
| Your earnings | £196/week net or less |
| Not in full-time education | 21+ hours supervised study per week |
| UK residence | Living in England, Scotland, Wales, or NI |
Earnings Limit
| 2026/27 | |
|---|---|
| Earnings limit | £196/week net |
| How calculated | Gross earnings minus tax, NI, and half your pension contributions |
If your net earnings exceed £196 in any week, you cannot receive Carer’s Allowance for that week.
What Reduces Your Net Earnings
You can deduct:
- Income tax (PAYE)
- National Insurance contributions
- Half of your pension contributions
- Childcare costs needed to work
- Care costs needed to work (for another disabled person)
Tip: Increasing pension contributions can bring you under the limit.
How Carer’s Allowance Affects Other Benefits
Universal Credit
| Element | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| Carer element | £198.31 |
If you get Carer’s Allowance, UC includes a carer element. However, your Carer’s Allowance payment is then deducted. The net effect is roughly £116/month extra (carer element minus CA received).
State Pension
If you receive the full new State Pension (£230.25/week in 2026/27), Carer’s Allowance is not paid on top — it’s an overlapping benefit. However, you keep your NI credits if you claimed earlier.
Pension Credit
Carer’s Allowance counts as income, but Pension Credit includes a carer premium (approximately £45.60/week) if you receive it.
Underlying Entitlement
If you can’t receive Carer’s Allowance because you get another overlapping benefit (like State Pension), you may still have “underlying entitlement” to CA.
This matters because underlying entitlement:
- Triggers the UC carer element
- Triggers premiums in older benefits
- Gives NI credits
National Insurance Credits
Receiving Carer’s Allowance (or having underlying entitlement) gives you:
| Credit | Value |
|---|---|
| Class 1 NI credits | Each week counts towards your State Pension |
| State Pension years | One year of credits = one qualifying year |
This protects your State Pension even if you’re not working.
How to Claim
Online: GOV.UK/carers-allowance
By phone: 0800 731 0297
By post: Download form DS700 from GOV.UK
What You Need
- Your National Insurance number
- National Insurance number of person you care for
- Details of their disability benefit
- Your bank/building society details
- Employment/self-employment details
Recent Rate History
| Tax Year | Weekly Rate | Annual Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £81.90 | £4,258.80 |
| 2025/26 | £81.90 | £4,258.80 |
| 2024/25 | £81.90 | £4,258.80 |
| 2023/24 | £76.75 | £3,991.00 |
| 2022/23 | £69.70 | £3,624.40 |
Related Guides
- Carer’s Allowance Earnings Limit Guide
- Attendance Allowance Guide
- Universal Credit Rates 2026/27
- National Insurance Credits Guide
Summary
| 2026/27 | |
|---|---|
| Weekly rate | £81.90 |
| Annual rate | £4,258.80 |
| Earnings limit | £196/week net |
| Care hours | 35+ hours/week |
| NI credits | Yes — automatic |