Can I claim Carer’s Allowance on top of my other benefits?

You cannot be paid Carer’s Allowance if you receive other earnings replacement benefits such as contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)/Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) or new style ESA/JSA. Incapacity benefit or State Pension at the same time. This is because you cannot be paid more than one of these benefits at the same time.

Even if you do receive an 'overlapping benefit' it is still worth you establishing your underlying entitlement to Carer’s Allowance. This is because it may also trigger what are known as Carer Premiums on certain other means-tested benefits, such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Employment and Support Allowance.

A Carer Premium may then be added to your existing means-tested benefit. Carer Premiums are currently worth an extra £45.60 per week.

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