About the UK Carer’s Allowance Checker
This Carer’s Allowance checker tells you whether you are likely to qualify for the UK benefit for people who look after someone with substantial care needs, and — most importantly for working carers — whether your earnings are under the limit. For the 2026/27 tax year Carer’s Allowance is £86.45 a week, and the earnings limit is £204 a week after tax, National Insurance and allowable expenses. The rule is a cliff edge: earn £1 over and you lose the whole payment for that week.
It is designed for carers juggling part-time work, and for families deciding who should claim. The calculator applies the deductions DWP allows: income tax, National Insurance, half of your pension contributions, work expenses, and payments to someone (not a close relative) to look after the person you care for or your children while you work, up to half of your net earnings.
You must be 16 or over, care for at least 35 hours a week, not be in full-time education of 21 hours or more, and the person you care for must get a qualifying disability benefit such as PIP daily living, Attendance Allowance or the middle or highest DLA care rate. In Scotland, Carer’s Allowance has been replaced by Carer Support Payment, paid at the same weekly rate by Social Security Scotland.
How to use the uk carer’s allowance checker
- 1Choose where you live and confirm you are 16 or over.
- 2Enter how many hours a week you spend caring.
- 3Confirm the person you care for gets a qualifying benefit and whether you study 21+ hours.
- 4Enter your weekly gross pay, tax and NI, pension contributions and any work or care costs.
- 5Check the result and how much more you could earn before losing the allowance.
Formula and method
DWP compares your weekly earnings after deductions with the £204 earnings limit for 2026/27. From gross pay it deducts income tax, National Insurance, half of any pension contributions you make, and allowable work expenses. It then deducts what you pay someone (who is not a close relative) to care for the disabled person or your children while you work, limited to half of the net earnings figure.
If the counted amount is £204 or less you receive the full £86.45 a week; if it is more, you get nothing for that week — there is no taper. The calculator also checks the non-financial conditions: age 16+, at least 35 hours of caring a week, a qualifying benefit for the person cared for, and not studying 21 hours or more. Irregular earnings are usually averaged over a period by DWP.
- Gross
- Weekly earnings before deductions
- Pension
- Your own weekly pension contributions (50% deductible)
- net
- Earnings after tax, NI, half pension and expenses
Worked examples
Part-time worker earning £200 a week with £10 pension
Half of the £10 pension contribution (£5) is deducted from £200 gross, giving counted earnings of £195. That is £9 under the £204 limit, so the carer gets £86.45 a week — £4,495.40 a year.
Earning £320 a week with tax, NI and childcare
Net earnings are £320 − £25 tax and NI − £8 (half the £16 pension) = £287. The £100 paid to a childminder is below the cap of half of net earnings (£143.50), so it is deducted in full, leaving counted earnings of £187 — £17 under the limit.
Caring 30 hours a week
Carer’s Allowance needs at least 35 hours of care a week. You can combine time across the week, but you cannot add hours spent caring for two different people.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Carer’s Allowance in 2026/27?+
Carer’s Allowance is £86.45 a week from April 2026, which is £4,495.40 a year. It is paid weekly or every four weeks and counts as taxable income.
What is the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit?+
For 2026/27 you can earn up to £204 a week after tax, National Insurance and allowable expenses. Half your pension contributions and some care costs are also deducted. Earning even 1p over means no payment for that week.
Which benefits must the person I care for receive?+
PIP daily living component, DLA middle or highest care rate, Attendance Allowance, Adult Disability Payment daily living, Child Disability Payment middle or highest care, Pension Age Disability Payment, Armed Forces Independence Payment, or Constant Attendance Allowance at certain rates.
Can I get Carer’s Allowance and State Pension?+
Usually not both in full: they are overlapping benefits, so if your State Pension is more than £86.45 a week you will not be paid Carer’s Allowance. You may still have “underlying entitlement”, which can add a carer element to Pension Credit or other means-tested help.
Does claiming Carer’s Allowance affect the person I care for?+
It can. If they get a severe disability premium or addition in means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, it may stop when you are paid Carer’s Allowance. Check before claiming.
Is Carer’s Allowance available in Scotland?+
Scotland has replaced it with Carer Support Payment, run by Social Security Scotland at the same weekly rate, with some extra flexibility for students. Scottish carers may also get the Carer’s Allowance Supplement twice a year.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.