Updated for 2026/27 Independent estimate Not GOV.UK

Carer's Allowance calculator 2026/27

Check whether Carer's Allowance may be in range based on your caring hours, earnings and the disability benefit the person you care for receives.

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Estimated weekly Carer's Allowance
£81.90
Estimated annual Carer's Allowance: £4,258.80
Carer's Allowance is £81.90 a week in 2026/27 (£4,258.80 a year) if eligible. It is taxable and may reduce Universal Credit by the same amount.
Weekly Carer's Allowance rate £81.90
Earnings limit £151.00
Hours caring per week £35.00
Other included support £81.90
Period used
Estimated weekly Carer's Allowance
Annual view
£4,258.80
Estimate only
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Weekly Carer's Allowance rate £81.90
Your weekly earnings £0.00
Earnings limit £151.00
Hours caring per week £35.00
Estimated weekly award £81.90
Carer's Allowance is taxable and counts as income for Universal Credit purposes — UC will usually be reduced by £1 for every £1 of Carer's Allowance received.
You may still have 'underlying entitlement' to Carer's Allowance even if a higher benefit (like State Pension) prevents actual payment — this can still trigger a carer element in UC.
The earnings limit is £151/week net after tax, NI and 50% of pension contributions.
The person you care for must receive PIP (daily living component), DLA (middle or high care), Attendance Allowance, or similar.
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The earnings limit — what counts and what does not

The £151/week earnings limit for 2026/27 applies to net earnings after deducting income tax, National Insurance contributions, and 50% of any pension contributions you make. If you work part-time and stay below that net figure, earnings do not prevent a claim.

Earnings from self-employment use the same threshold but can be complex — allowable business expenses are deducted before comparing against the limit.

How Carer's Allowance interacts with Universal Credit

Carer's Allowance is counted as income in UC and reduces your UC award pound-for-pound. However, claiming Carer's Allowance also triggers a carer element addition in Universal Credit of £198.31 a month. For most UC claimants, the net effect of claiming Carer's Allowance is positive.

If you receive a higher 'overlapping benefit' such as the State Pension or Contributory ESA that is already equal to or greater than Carer's Allowance, actual payment is blocked. But you still have 'underlying entitlement', which is enough to trigger the UC carer element.

Why Carer's Allowance is one of the most under-claimed benefits

Two common misconceptions stop people claiming: that earnings will definitely disqualify them (only earnings over £151/week net do), and that getting State Pension means they can no longer claim anything related (underlying entitlement still applies). Around 400,000 eligible carers are estimated to be missing Carer's Allowance each year.

The carer element in Universal Credit is also frequently missed because people do not realise that even without actual Carer's Allowance payment, underlying entitlement triggers the addition.

Related calculators

People usually check these pages next when they are comparing support, testing a change of circumstances, or trying to explain a low result.

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Frequently asked questions

How much is Carer's Allowance in 2026/27?
£81.90 a week, which is £4,258.80 a year. It is taxable income.
How many hours do you need to care to claim?
At least 35 hours a week providing care for someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit.
What is the earnings limit for Carer's Allowance?
£151 per week net of tax, National Insurance and 50% of pension contributions in 2026/27. Earnings above this disqualify you.
Does Carer's Allowance affect Universal Credit?
Yes. Carer's Allowance counts as income for UC. UC is normally reduced pound-for-pound, but you receive a carer element addition of £198.31/month which often more than offsets the reduction.
What if I get the State Pension — can I still get Carer's Allowance?
State Pension and Carer's Allowance cannot usually both be paid at full rate — the higher of the two is paid. But you may still have 'underlying entitlement', which can trigger a carer element addition in Universal Credit.

Independent estimate only

This page is written to help you understand the likely direction of the answer quickly, not to replace the official claim process. Local authority rules, evidence requirements, deductions, sanctions, timing and special-case rules can all change the final outcome.

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