You, or the person you're looking after, may be entitled to benefits to top up your income, so it's worth checking to see if you're eligible. These benefits can be claimed by you or the person you're looking after, or both of you, depending on your circumstances.
For more information on the benefits and tax credits you may be able to claim as a carer, see the section Benefits for carers.
For more information on the benefits and tax credits that the person you're looking after can claim, see the section Benefits for the person you look after.
Top-up benefits are known as means-tested benefits because they're only paid if you have limited income and capital (savings, investments and property that is not your main home).
Your own income is taken into account as well as that of your spouse or partner. Apart from Pension Credit, if you have income above a certain amount you will not entitled to any benefit. If you have some capital, but it is below the amount which stops you getting any benefit, the amount of benefit you're paid may be reduced.
These benefits are paid in addition to other benefits to top up your income. Use the links below to check if you or the person you're looking after are entitled to one or more means-tested benefits.
You will only get one of the following four means-tested benefits. If you're entitled to more than one, the Benefit Enquiry Line (0800 882 200) can help you work out which will pay you the most:
- Income Support: paid to people below the qualifying age for the guarantee credit part of Pension Credit, if they're in one of the groups of people who can claim, such as carers or lone parents (see External links). It can also help with the interest part of your mortgage payments
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance: a new benefit paid to people under 65 who have a limited capacity for work because of ill health or a disability. It can also help with the interest part of your mortgage payments
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance: paid to people who are actively seeking work. It can also help with the interest part of your mortgage payments
- Pension Credit: This has two parts: the guarantee credit and the savings credit. The guarantee credit is paid to people who have reached the qualifying age and tops up their income. Between 2010 and 2020, the qualifying age for guarantee credit will move gradually from 60 to 65. You can check what your qualifying age will be on Directgov. The savings credit is paid to people aged 65 and over and rewards them for having some savings.
In addition to one of the means-tested benefits from the above list, you may be able to claim one of the following means-tested benefits:
- Housing Benefit: paid to people who pay rent and have a low income.
- Council Tax Benefit: paid to people who are liable for council tax and have a low income (see Council Tax Benefit under External links to see how this is defined).
Being awarded Carer’s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance (AA) increases the amount of income you can have while still receiving one of the means-tested benefits. If you've just started to receive DLA or AA, you may be entitled to a means-tested benefit, even if you have previously been turned down for one. Call the Benefit Enquiry Line (0800 882 200) or use the Citizens Advice Bureau's online Adviceguide.
Entitlement to means-tested benefits often entitles you to other benefits such as free school meals, health benefits and social fund payments.
Also check if you're entitled to any tax credits, especially if you have any children.
