Half-rate Carer's Allowance

Introduction

Since September 2007, the Carer's Allowance scheme has allowed more people who are caring for another person get a Carer's Allowance payment. If you are getting certain social welfare payments and you are providing full-time care and attention to another person, you can keep your main social welfare payment and get half-rate Carer’s Allowance as well.

If you are in one of the following situations you may qualify for half-rate Carer's Allowance:

• Already getting Carer's Allowance but also meet the qualifying criteria for another social welfare payment
• Changed from another social welfare payment to get Carer's Allowance
• Caring for someone and being claimed for by a spouse or partner
• Getting a social welfare payment other than Carer's Allowance and caring for someone

If you are already getting Carer’s Allowance

If you are getting Carer's Allowance and you also meet the qualifying conditions for another social welfare payment (for example, a state pension) you should apply for the other payment. If you qualify for the other payment you will be paid it in full and keep half your Carer’s Allowance payment as well. (For a list of social welfare payments payable with half-rate Carer's Allowance - see 'Rules' below)

If you are currently getting Carer’s Allowance and your spouse or partner is claiming another social welfare payment (for example, Jobseeker’s Allowance), your spouse or partner may claim an increase in their social welfare payment for you as a qualified adult and your Carer’s Allowance will be reduced by 50%. This can only be done with your consent but it may increase your total household income.

If you changed from another social welfare payment to Carer’s Allowance

If you were on another social welfare payment before claiming Carer's Allowance, you may get your original payment reinstated and also get half-rate Carer's Allowance, if you continue to meet the qualifying conditions for both schemes. (For a list of social welfare payments now payable with half-rate Carer's Allowance - see 'Rules' below)

If you are caring for someone and being claimed for as an adult dependant on your spouse or partner’s social welfare payment

If you are being claimed for as a qualified adult on your spouse or partner’s social welfare payment and you are providing full-time care to another person, you may now apply for half-rate Carer's Allowance and keep your current Increase for a Qualified Adult in full.

If you are getting a social welfare payment (other than Carer’s Allowance) and caring for someone

If you are getting one of the social welfare payments now payable with half-rate Carer's Allowance (see 'Rules' below) and caring for someone, you may keep your social welfare payment and qualify for half-rate Carer’s Allowance.

Rules

You must meet the qualifying criteria for Carer’s Allowance. For example, the person you are caring for must be so incapacitated as to require full-time care and attention and you must satisfy a means test. There is more information in our document about the qualifying criteria for Carer’s Allowance.

If you satisfy the conditions for Carer’s Allowance it will be awarded at 50% of the rate that would apply if you were not getting any other payment. You will also be eligible for the Respite Care Grant, Household Benefits Package and a Free Travel Pass.

You can get half-rate Carer’s Allowance with the following weekly social welfare payments:

• State Pension (Contributory) and State Pension (Contributory) Increase for a Qualified Adult
• Deserted Wife's Benefit
• Invalidity Pension and Invalidity Pension Increase for a Qualified Adult
• Jobseeker's Benefit Increase for a Qualified Adult
• Illness Benefit and Illness Benefit Increase for a Qualified Adult
• Widow's/Widower's (Contributory) Pension
• Injury Benefit and Injury Benefit Increase for a Qualified Adult
• Death Benefit
• Health and Safety Benefit
• Maternity Benefit
• Adoptive Benefit
• State Pension (Non-Contributory) and State Pension (Non-Contributory) Increase for a Qualified Adult
• Blind Pension and Blind Pension Increase for a Qualified Adult
• Widow's/Widower's (Non-Contributory) Pension
• One-Parent Family Payment
• Pre-Retirement Allowance and Pre-Retirement Allowance Increase for a Qualified Adult Allowance
• Jobseeker's Allowance Increase for a Qualified Adult
• Disability Allowance and Disability Allowance Increase for a Qualified Adult
• Incapacity Supplement and Incapacity Supplement Increase for a Qualified Adult
• Farm Assist and Farm Assist Increase for a Qualified Adult

You cannot get half-rate Carer’s Allowance with the following social welfare payments:

• Supplementary Welfare Allowance
• Supplementary Welfare Allowance Increase for a Qualified Adult
• Jobseekers Benefit
• Jobseekers Allowance
• Family Income Support
• Back to Work Allowance
• Back to Education
• Carer’s Benefit

You cannot get Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) or Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) and half-rate Carer's Allowance because you must be actively seeking employment and be available to take up employment to qualify for JA and JB. However, you may qualify for half-rate Carer's Allowance if your spouse or partner is getting JA or JB and claiming for you as a qualified adult dependant.

Rates

If you satisfy the conditions for Carer’s Allowance it will be awarded at 50% of the rate that would apply if you were not getting any other payment.  

Maximum half-rate Carer's Allowance from January 2010 

Any increase you may be entitled to, for example, an increase for a dependant child, living alone and living on an offshore island will be paid with your main social welfare payment and not with the half-rate Carer’s Allowance.

How to apply

Half-rate Carer’s Allowance is not a new scheme. You apply on the standard Carer’s Allowance form.  

To apply fill in an application form for Carers Allowance (pdf) or contact your local Social Welfare local office for a copy of this form.

Forward the completed application form with the relevant certificates to Carer's Allowance Section at the Department of Social and Family Affairs - see 'Where to apply' below.

Where to apply