It’s no lie that the increasing cost of living is biting quite hard and many would appreciate any form of support from government. Well, if you are carer, you could be receiving as much as £270 each month as well as Christmas bonus from the Department for Works and Pension (DWP), according to Chronicle Live.
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Eligibility
The government department responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy can award carers an additional £69.70 a week or £278 a month; over £3,000 a year. If you are at least 16 years old and spend a minimum of 35 hours a week caring for someone, you qualify for this support.
Additionally, you should be a resident of England, Scotland, or Wales with no more than £132 in earnings, after tax, National Insurance and expenses. However, this does not imply that the allowance is tied to National Insurance contributions. What this means is that the Carer’s Allowance is not dependent on your personal income or savings, Chronicle Live wrote.
Other conditions
If you think you qualify for this, you should know that it is taxable and may affect other benefits you receive or are planning to apply to. According to the Manchester Evening News, in order to qualify, you should also ensure that the person being cared for claims at least one of the following:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Disability Living Allowance
- Attendance Allowance
- Disablement Benefit Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Child/Adult Disability Payment.
It is also worth noting that if you are sharing caring duties with someone else, only one of you can claim the allowance. Additionally, Carer's Allowance can only be claimed once, even if the claimant is caring for more than one person.
If you qualify for the assistance, you will also receive a Christmas bonus of £10 which will not affect any other benefits. Visit the government’s official page to learn more about the Carers’ Allowance.
Read more:
⋙ Are you a single parent in the UK? Here are three benefits you're entitled to
⋙ £2,000 of free cash offered by the government, here’s how to get it
⋙ The British government is handing out £300 winter fuel allowance, are you eligible?
