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Carer's Allowance

You may be able to claim Carer's Allowance if you're aged 16 or over and care for someone at least 35 hours a week. See the link 'Carer's Allowance' to see if you qualify.

If you don't qualify for Carers Allowance you may qualify for Carers Credit. See the link 'Caring and your pension' to find out more about Carers Credit.

• Carer's Allowance (money, tax and benefits section)

• Caring and your pension

Direct payments for carers

If you have been assessed by your local council as needing support services to help you in your caring role, you can choose direct payments. They allow you to buy in and arrange help yourself instead of receiving it directly from social services.

Carer's Credits

From 6 April 2010, a new Carer's Credit has been introduced. It is a National Insurance credit which will lets carers build up qualifying years for the basic State Pension and additional State Pension. This means that there will be no gaps in your National Insurance record if you have to take on caring responsibilities.

You may be able to get Carer's Credit if :

• you provide care for one or more disabled person(s) for a total of 20 hours or more each week
• you are not already getting Carer's Allowance

See the link 'Caring and your pension' to find out if you can get Carer's Credit and how to apply.

• Caring and your pension

Caring and your pension

You may still be able to build up entitlement to additional State Pension if you're not working or if you're caring for someone. As a carer you may also qualify for extra Pension Credit.

• Caring and your pension

Income Support

If you're claiming Income Support and also entitled to Carer's Allowance, you may be able to get an extra amount in your Income Support. This is called a 'carer premium'.

• Income Support (general money, tax and benefits section)

Community Care Grants

If you're getting certain benefits and need financial help to ease exceptional pressure on your family, you may get a Community Care Grant. You could be eligible if you are caring for someone who is ill or disabled.

• Community Care Grants (general money, tax and benefits section)

Caring for a disabled child

Child Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit is a means-tested allowance for parents and carers of children or young people who are still in full-time education. You may get an extra amount if you are caring for a disabled child.

• Tax credits (general money, tax and benefits section)

Sure Start Maternity Grant

This is a one-off payment to help towards the costs of a new baby. You may be eligible if you're on a low income and receiving certain types of financial support. This includes Income Support and Child Tax Credit, with an extra amount for a disabled child.

• Sure Start Maternity Grant (general money, tax and benefits section)

Child Maintenance

If you are a lone parent, you may be able to claim Child Maintenance from your child's other parent through the Child Support Agency. You may get an extra amount if you have extra costs because your child is disabled.

• Child Maintenance (parents section)

The Disabled Child Premium

If you are responsible for a child under 19, or in certain circumstances under 20, you will get this premium if either:

• the dependant is getting Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• the dependant is registered blind

The Enhanced Disability Premium (child rate)

If the dependant gets the highest-rate care component of DLA, you may get the enhanced disabled child premium.

You do not get either premium if the dependent child has capital of more than £3,000.

Home and housing

Housing Benefit

If you are on a low income and need financial help to pay your rent, you may be able to get Housing Benefit. You may get extra money if you are caring for a disabled child or adult.

• Housing Benefit (general money, tax and benefits section)

Help with Council Tax

If you are on a low income and need financial help to pay your Council Tax, you may be able to get Council Tax Benefit. You may get extra money if you are caring for a disabled child or adult.

If you care for someone at least 35 hours a week in your household, you may get a separate reduction on your Council Tax. The person you are caring for cannot be your spouse, partner or child. This reduction can be made in addition to Council Tax benefit. There is also a separate Council Tax reduction for disabled people.

• Council Tax Benefit (general money, tax and benefits section)

• Council Tax reduction for carers

• Council Tax reduction for disabled people (disabled people section)

Vehicles and transport

The Motability Scheme

The Motability Scheme helps disabled people buy or lease a car at an affordable price. If you care for a disabled person who doesn't drive, they can still apply to buy or lease a car through the Motability Scheme.

You can also apply for a car on behalf of a child aged three or over. The child needs to be entitled to the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance.

• The Motability Scheme (disabled people section)

Blue Badge parking scheme

The Blue Badge parking scheme provides a range of parking benefits for disabled people. If you're caring for a disabled person who doesn't drive, they can nominate you as their driver. This means you can use their Blue Badge when driving them.

• Blue Badge parking scheme (disabled people section)

Disabled Persons Railcard

If you're caring for an adult who has a Disabled Persons Railcard, you can receive the same discount as them when travelling with them.

If you have a disabled child who has a Disabled Persons Railcard, they will travel at standard child fare. But you'll receive a discount of one third off the standard adult fare when you travel with them.

• The Disabled Persons Railcard (disabled people section)

Out and about - accompanying a disabled person

Visiting places of interest

Many places of interest offer discounted or free admission to a companion accompanying a disabled person. This includes museums, sports venues, National Trust properties and English Heritage sites.

Cinema Exhibitors' Association Card

The Cinema Exhibitors' Association Card is a national card for disabled people. It entitles the holder to one free ticket for a person accompanying them to the cinema. The card is valid for one year.

• Cinema Exhibitors' Association Card website Opens new window

Financial support for the person you care for

Find out about the financial support available to disabled people, including Disability Living Allowance and direct payments, in the 'disabled people' section of Directgov.

• Financial support (disabled people section)

Useful contacts

• Organisations and charities for carers