If you look after someone with a terminal illness, you may need extra help with finances. You may have had to stop or reduce the amount of work you do. And you may have extra costs for things like getting around, transport, heating or food. You may be able to get certain benefits. These are sometimes called carer benefits. We explain what you may be able to get and where to get more support.
What benefits can I claim as a carer?
If you’re caring for someone with an illness or disability, you may be able to get:
- Carer’s Allowance, or Carer Support Payment in Scotland
- Carer Element if you get Universal Credit
- Carer Premium if you get other benefits including income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Income Support.
In Scotland, you may also be able to get:
- Young Carer Grant
- Scottish Carer Supplement (previously Carer’s Allowance Supplement).
You can read more about each of these benefits in the sections below.
Who can get carer benefits?
You can get carer benefits if you look after someone who needs extra help or support because of an illness or disability. They might have a condition such as cancer, dementia, motor neurone disease (MND) or heart failure. Usually, the person you care for needs to be claiming a benefit related to their disability or illness.
Each benefit has its own rules about who can get it. You can find out more by clicking on the links below or contacting the free Marie Curie Support Line on 0800 090 2309 or email support@mariecurie.org.uk.
Carer’s Allowance and Carer Support Payment
If you support a family member or friend who has an illness or disability, you may be able to get:
- Carer's Allowance if you live in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Carer Support Payment if you live in Scotland.
To get Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment you need to meet these criteria:
- You spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone.
- The person you care for gets a certain benefit related to their illness or disability.
- You earn £204 or less per week after tax, National Insurance and expenses.
- You’re aged 16 or over.
If the person you care for has a terminal illness and you get Carer Support Payment, you may be able to get your benefit paid weekly in advance.
Carer Element for Universal Credit
Carer Element is an extra payment if you meet specific conditions and get Universal Credit. You need to be caring for someone who gets a disability benefit. You do not need to be getting Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment. To find out more, you can talk to your work coach, report a change in circumstances or call the Universal Credit Helpline.
You usually need to apply for this - it’s not paid automatically.
Carer Premium
Carer Premium (sometimes called the Carer Addition) is an extra payment for carers. You can get it if you already get certain benefits, including (but not limited to) Universal Credit and Council Tax Reduction (or Council Tax Support). This is usually added to your benefits automatically - you do not usually need to apply for it. If you’re not sure, contact your benefits provider (see Government websites below).
Scottish Carer Supplement
Scottish Carer Supplement (previously Carer’s Allowance Supplement) is an extra payment if you live in Scotland and get Carer’s Support Payment. You do not usually need to apply for it.
Young Carer Grant in Scotland
Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment for people aged between 16 and 19 in Scotland. You need to care for one or more people for on average 16 hours a week. The person you help look after needs to be getting a benefit related to their illness or disability.
Carer’s Credit
Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit if you:
- care for someone for at least 20 hours a week **and **
- are aged between 16 and State Pension age.
It does not give you any money. But it gives you National Insurance credit, so you can receive benefits like your State Pension. If you get some benefits, including Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment, you will usually get it automatically. If you do not get these benefits, you may need to apply for it.
What should I know before applying for carer benefits?
It can help to be aware of some things:
- Claiming carer benefits could affect the benefits of the person you care for
- Claiming carer benefits could affect the benefits you already get. Your total benefit payments will usually either go up or stay the same.
- If you and someone else care for the same person, only one of you can get Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment.
It’s important to get advice before making a claim (see More information and advice below).
What if the person I care for has a terminal illness?
There are not extra benefits for carers when the person you support has a terminal or life-limiting illness.
But the person you care for may be able to apply for benefits under the special rules for end of life or special rules for terminal illness. This means their claim could be fast-tracked and paid at a higher rate. Which could mean that you can get carer benefits more quickly.
Other financial support for carers
You may be able to get other financial support, either for yourself or the person you support:
- Energy bills – you could get grants or payments to help with your energy bills.
- Council tax – some councils offer a reduction or exemption in council tax when people have a terminal illness. Contact your local council to find out more.
- Support from your local council – for example, access to the Crisis and Resilience Fund in England, Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales, Crisis Grants in Scotland or Discretionary Support in Northern Ireland. For more information, contact your local council or, in Northern Ireland, the Financial Support Service.
- Grants – these are sums of money which do not have to be repaid. Some charities and organisations provide grants for people who have a disability or health condition, or who are carers.
- Sick pay – this includes Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and Occupational Sick Pay. Find out more on the government website or from your employer.
- Transport costs – you might be able to get a Blue Badge, help with transport to the hospital or hospice, hospital parking, or public transport. Find out more on the government website or from your local council, hospital or hospice.
- Motability (lease a car) – if you get a mobility payment as part of your benefits for help getting around, you may be able to use this payment to lease a car through the Motability scheme.
- Prescriptions, wigs, dental and eye care – you might get help with the costs of these or to get some care for free. Find out more on the NHS website or from your local healthcare service.
- Mortgages, rent and other bills – if you have a mortgage, you may be able to get help with the interest as a loan from the government. If you get Universal Credit, you may get housing allowance to help with rent. It can help to talk to the provider or company to see what support they can offer.
How to apply for benefits
Check you’re eligible and apply
You can check what you can get on the relevant government website and apply (see Government websites below). You can also use our benefits calculator to see what you might be eligible for.
More information and advice
It can help to get more advice about your specific circumstances and what you need to apply.
Some benefits can affect the other benefits that you, or the person you care for, get. So it’s important you have the right information and advice.
Here are some organisations that can provide further support:
It can also help to talk to your local hospice or hospital, who may have someone who can support you with your finances.
Support from Marie Curie
The free Marie Curie Support Line can provide information about different benefits and support with energy bills. You can contact us on 0800 090 2309 or email support@mariecurie.org.uk.
Our Support Line staff are not trained benefits advisers. We cannot provide information about your specific benefit claim. For all queries about claims, you'll need to contact the relevant government department. And, we cannot provide advice about whether applying for a benefit will affect your existing benefits. If you need this support, it’s best to speak to a specialist benefits adviser (see More information and advice above).