Benefits for cancer carers

Carer's Allowance

Carer's Allowance is a payment you can get if you're looking after someone for at least 35 hours a week and they are on certain benefits.

The person you're caring for doesn't need to be a relative. You don't have to live with them either. You don't get paid more if you look after more than one person. If more than one person looks after the same person, only one of you can get Carer's Allowance.

The care can include:

• helping them with washing and cooking

• taking them to a doctor's appointment

• helping them with daily tasks such as paying bills and doing shopping

Your other benefits and those of the person you care for can be affected by Carer's Allowance. You pay tax on Carer's Allowance if your income is more than the Personal Allowance.

Read more about the Personal Allowance

You and the person you care for must meet certain criteria.

You (the carer)

You must meet all of the following. You can qualify if:

• you're 16 or older

• you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week

• you've lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if you're a refugee or have humanitarian protection status)

• you usually live in England, Scotland or Wales, or you live abroad as a member of the armed forces (you might also qualify if you're moving to or already living in an EEA country or Switzerland)

• you're not in full time education

• you are studying less than 21 hours a week

• you're not subject to immigration control

• you're earning £204 a week or less a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses

The person you care for

The person you're looking after must already get one of the following benefits:

• Personal Independence Payment (daily living component)

• Disability Living Allowance (middle or highest care rate)

• Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate

• Attendance Allowance

• Pension Age Disability Payment

• Constant Attendance Allowance (at or above the normal highest rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit)

• Constant Attendance Allowance (at the full day rate with a War Disablement Pension)

• Armed Forces Independence Payment

• Child Disability Payment (the middle or highest care rate)

• Adult Disability Payment - daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate

Read more about Carer's Allowance on the Government website

The process is slightly different in Northern Ireland.

Read more about Carer's Allowance in Northern Ireland

In Scotland, you need to apply for Carer Support Payment instead of Carer’s Allowance.

Read about Carer Support Payment in Scotland

Young Carer Grant in Scotland

This is a yearly payment for young carers in Scotland. To be able to get the Young Carer Grant, you must be between 16 and 19 years old. You must also have been caring for people for an average of 16 hours a week for at least the last 3 months.

Get more information on the Young Carer Grant in Scotland

Carers Credit

If you’re caring for someone for at least 20 hours a week, you may get Carers Credit.

Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit. It helps with gaps in your National Insurance record. Your State Pension is based on your National Insurance record.

This means you can take on caring responsibilities without affecting your eligibility for the State Pension.

To be eligible for Carer’s Credit, you must be:

• aged 16 or over

• under State Pension age

• looking after one or more people for at least 20 hours a week

The person you are caring for should also be claiming benefits.

Read more about Carers Credit on the Government website

Carer element if you claim Universal Credit

You may be eligible for the carer element if you become a carer and are getting Universal Credit. This is extra financial help on top of your standard allowance. You need to be caring for someone who has a disability benefit.

Find out more about the carer element and how to apply on the information for Universal Credit

Bereavement Support Payment

Bereavement Support Payment is a payment that you can apply for if your partner has died. It is not means tested. So your income or whether or not you're working doesn't affect it.

Bereavement Support Payment has replaced:

• Bereavement Allowance (previously Widow's Pension)

• Bereavement Payment

• Widowed Parent's Allowance

You may be able to get Bereavement Support Payment if your partner died in the last 21 months. You usually need to apply within 3 months of their death to get the full amount.

You can get it if your partner either:

• paid a certain amount of Class 1 or Class 2 National Insurance contributions in any one tax year since 6 April 1975

• died because of an accident at work or a disease caused by work

At the time of their death, you must have been:

• under State Pension age

• living in the UK or any country that pays bereavement payments

• married to your partner, in a civil partnership, or living with them as if married

You cannot apply for Bereavement Support Payment if you're in prison.

You may still qualify for Bereavement Support Payment if your partner died more than 21 months ago.

You may qualify for Widowed Parent's Allowance if your partner died before 6 April 2017.

Read more about Widowed Parent's Allowance

Read more about Bereavement Support Payment on the Government website

Funeral Expenses Payment

Funeral Expenses Payment is a payment that you can apply for to help you pay for a funeral you're arranging. You need to be on certain benefits. It is also called a Funeral Payment.

In Scotland, you can apply for Funeral Support Payment. It has replaced Funeral Expenses Payment.

Read more on how to apply in Scotland

You might be able to get Funeral Expenses Payment if you:

• are getting certain benefits. For example, Income Support, Pension Credit or Universal Credit or tax credits. This is usually means tested.

• meet the rules on your relationship with the person whose funeral you are arranging

• are arranging a funeral in the UK, the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland

You might also get other help towards the funeral if you don't qualify for Funeral Expenses Payment.

Read more about Funeral Expenses Payment on the Government website

Check the benefits and financial support you can get