Being a carer for a family member or parent: what to know

You are a carer if you regularly look after a family member who is ill, disabled or older, even if you never use the word. That entitles you to ask the council for a free carer’s assessment, and you may qualify for Carer’s Allowance of £86.45 a week. Knowing your rights early helps to protect your income, health and State Pension.

At a glance

• The NHS counts you as a carer if you look after someone regularly because they are ill, older or disabled, including family members.
• A carer’s assessment is free, and anyone over 18 can ask for one.
• Carer’s Allowance is £86.45 a week for 35 or more hours of care, with an earnings limit of £204 a week after tax and expenses.
• Carer’s Credit can protect your State Pension record if you care for 20 or more hours a week.
• Tell the right office about changes straight away, because overpayments can build up.

Are you a carer?

Many people caring for a parent, partner or sibling do not think of themselves as carers. The NHS says caring includes helping with washing, dressing and taking medicines, getting out and about and travelling to appointments, shopping, cleaning and laundry, and paying bills and organising finances. It also includes emotional support, such as sitting with someone to keep them company or watching over them if they cannot be left alone.

You do not have to live with the person, and you do not have to be related. Realising that you are a carer matters because most support, from assessments to benefits, depends on it. If you also care for a parent while raising children, see sandwich carers.

What rights do you have as a carer?

In England you can ask the adult social services team at your local council for a carer’s assessment. It is separate from the needs assessment of the person you care for, although you can have both at once. A member of the council team asks how caring affects your health, work, free time and relationships. It usually lasts at least an hour, and you can bring someone with you.

If you qualify for support, the council writes a care and support plan with you. It may recommend breaks, practical help or training, and you might need a financial assessment first for some help with costs. Read our guide to the carer’s assessment and your rights under the Care Act 2014. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own laws and services, so check the national carers organisation.

What money can you claim?

The person you care for must receive a benefit such as Attendance Allowance, the daily living part of PIP or the middle or highest care rate of DLA. Only one person can claim Carer’s Allowance for the same person, and you do not get extra for caring for two people. In Scotland you apply for Carer Support Payment instead.

Carer’s Allowance can affect other benefits. The person you care for will usually lose any severe disability premium or the severe disability addition in their Pension Credit, and they might lose a reduced Council Tax bill. If you get Universal Credit, it is reduced by the amount of Carer’s Allowance. Use a benefits calculator or ring a carers organisation before claiming. See Carer’s Allowance, the earnings limit, the Universal Credit carer element and Carer’s Credit.

Council Tax and overpayments

If you live with the person you care for, provide at least 35 hours of care a week, and they receive a qualifying disability benefit, you may not be counted as an adult for Council Tax, which can reduce the bill. You must apply, and you cannot usually be disregarded for caring for your partner. Check with your council.

GOV.UK also says the Department for Work and Pensions is reassessing Carer’s Allowance overpayments made between 10 April 2015 and 2 September 2025, and that some people may get a refund or have their debt reduced or cancelled. You do not need to contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit about a reassessment, as DWP will contact you.

How will caring affect work, health and relationships?

Employees can request flexible working from their first day in a job and can take up to one week of unpaid carer’s leave in any 12 months. They are also allowed a reasonable amount of time off to deal with emergencies involving a dependant. Read juggling work and caring for details.

Caring takes a toll on health. If you are the main carer for an older or disabled person, or you receive Carer’s Allowance, you can have a free NHS flu vaccine. Tell your GP practice that you care for someone, ask for your own health to be taken into account and do not skip your own appointments.

How do you get breaks and practical help?

Breaks are not a luxury. Councils and carers centres can arrange sitting services, day care, short stays and help at home, usually after a carer’s assessment. Plan an emergency back-up: a named person who knows the routine, with written notes on medicines and what to do. Our guides on respite care, grants and breaks and emergency respite explain the options.

What should you plan for?

• Legal authority. Encourage the person you care for to make a lasting power of attorney while they can.
• Sharing a home. The NHS advises a written agreement about who pays which bills and what happens if the person stops living with you, with legal advice.
• Your income. Reducing hours or leaving work affects pension and savings, so check Carer’s Credit and benefits first. See getting paid to care for a family member.
• When caring changes. Needs grow, and a care home or live-in carer may become the safer option. See bereavement support for carers for when caring ends.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to live with the person to be a carer?

No. You do not need to be related to or live with the person you care for to claim Carer’s Allowance, provided you care for at least 35 hours a week. Many carers support a parent or neighbour in a separate home.

Can I work and claim Carer’s Allowance?

Yes, if your earnings are £204 a week or less after tax, National Insurance and expenses. Some costs can be deducted, including half of pension contributions and certain care costs while you work.

Will Carer’s Allowance affect my State Pension?

It helps. For each week you receive Carer’s Allowance you get Class 1 National Insurance credits automatically. If you do not qualify but care for 20 hours or more, Carer’s Credit can fill gaps in your record.

How far back can I claim Carer’s Allowance?

You can backdate a claim by up to three months. Apply as soon as you meet the conditions, and have your National Insurance number and the details of the person you care for ready.

Can two people claim Carer’s Allowance for the same person?

No. Only one carer can claim for each person, even if you share the care. If another carer already claims, the DWP decides who should receive it, so it is worth applying and talking to the other carer.

Where to get help next

Read caring for elderly parents: tips and advice for day-to-day practical help and unpaid carers: key facts for the bigger picture. Use the funding checker to see what care funding the person you look after may be able to get, and find care for local services.

Sources

• NHS: Carer’s assessments
• GOV.UK: Carer’s Allowance
• GOV.UK: Carer’s Credit
• GOV.UK: Unpaid carer’s leave
• NHS: Sharing your home, advice for carers

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.