You can claim Carer’s Allowance while living with the person you care for — this is the most common arrangement. There is no residence requirement. The rules focus on how many hours you care (35+), the cared-for person’s qualifying benefit, and your own earnings (under £151/week net). Here is what you need to know for 2026/27.
Eligibility: A Quick Recap
To qualify for Carer’s Allowance in 2026/27:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Hours caring | At least 35 hours per week |
| Cared-for person’s benefit | Must receive PIP daily living (either rate), Attendance Allowance (either rate), DLA care component (middle or high), or certain other qualifying benefits |
| Your earnings | No more than £151/week net (after tax, NI, and allowable expenses) |
| Your age | 16 or over, not in full-time education (21+ hours/week) |
| Residence | Live in England, Scotland, or Wales (separate rules for NI) |
Living together: not a condition either way. You can live with the person or separately — neither helps nor hinders your claim.
The Severe Disability Premium (SDP) Check — Read This First
Before claiming Carer’s Allowance, you must check whether the person you care for receives the severe disability premium (SDP). This is an addition to legacy means-tested benefits (Income Support, ESA, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction) for people who:
- Live alone, AND
- Receive a qualifying disability benefit, AND
- Have no carer receiving Carer’s Allowance for them
If you live with them AND claim Carer’s Allowance, they lose the SDP.
SDP amount 2026/27: £76.40/week (single), £152.80/week (couple — both qualifying)
The SDP trap calculation:
| Your gain | Their loss |
|---|---|
| Carer’s Allowance: £83.30/week | SDP lost: £76.40/week |
| Net gain to household: £6.90/week |
If you do NOT live with them but still care for them, the SDP situation is different — the cared-for person may retain the SDP if they are considered to live “substantially alone.” This is a complex area — check with Citizens Advice before claiming.
How Living Together Affects Universal Credit
If you and the cared-for person are a couple (married, civil partnered, or living together as partners), Universal Credit assesses you jointly. This means:
- Both incomes counted together
- Both savings counted together — if combined savings exceed £16,000, no UC
- The carer element (£198.31/month) can still be added to your joint UC award
If you are not a couple (e.g. adult child caring for a parent, or siblings), you each have separate UC assessments. The parent’s income or savings do not affect your UC entitlement.
The Overlapping Benefits Rule
Carer’s Allowance overlaps with certain other benefits. If you receive any of the following at the same level or higher, you will be entitled to Carer’s Allowance in name (giving you an underlying entitlement) but not paid it in cash:
- State Pension
- Contributory ESA
- New Style JSA
- Maternity Allowance, Incapacity Benefit
This “underlying entitlement” still counts — it means the carer element can be added to UC, and the cared-for person loses the SDP if applicable.
Worked Example: Mike and His Father, Brian
Mike (42) lives with his father Brian (78). Brian has dementia and receives Attendance Allowance at the higher rate (£108.55/week). Mike works part-time, earning £120/week net.
- Mike meets the 35-hour care threshold: yes (he provides round-the-clock supervision)
- Mike’s earnings: £120/week net — under the £151/week limit
- Brian’s qualifying benefit: Attendance Allowance — yes
- They live together: no bar on claiming
Result: Mike is eligible for Carer’s Allowance of £83.30/week.
Brian does not receive the SDP because he is not on any legacy means-tested benefits (he only receives Attendance Allowance and State Pension). No SDP loss applies.
Mike should also check whether he qualifies for Universal Credit — the carer element (£198.31/month) can be added on top of the standard allowance if his income is low enough.
Caring for a Spouse or Partner
You can claim Carer’s Allowance for your spouse or partner. The same rules apply. However, if your partner is claiming Pension Credit as a couple, adding Carer’s Allowance to the household income may affect their Pension Credit calculation — check before claiming.
See our Carer’s Allowance guide, what happens when the person you care for dies, and Carer’s Allowance and state pension.