If you provide care for someone who cannot care for themselves (they have an illness or disability), then you could be eligible for Carers Allowance. We have discussed this benefit in our previous blog, especially how it can differ across the UK, but today we’re focusing specifically on the rules and rates for carers in Northern Ireland.

You can find information on Carers Allowance in England, Wales and Scotland below:

• Carers Allowance in England and Wales

• Carer Support Payment in Scotland

Read on to find out:

• What is Carers Allowance

• Who is eligible

• How can Northern Irish carers apply?

• Other Northern Irish help that is available

• FAQs about the payment

• How you can take two hotel beaks per year with Carefree!

Let’s get started

What is Carers Allowance?

For the 2026/27 tax year, the benefit provides £83.30 per week to those providing at least 35 hours of care. You don’t need to be a relative or live at the same address as the person you support to qualify. However, eligibility hinges on two main factors: the person you care for must receive a qualifying disability benefit such as PIP, Attendance Allowance, or the middle/highest rate of DLA, and only one carer can claim the allowance for any one individual.

Am I eligible for Carers Allowance in Northern Ireland?

To qualify in Northern Ireland, you’ll need to tick these boxes:

• Age: You are 16 or over.

• Hours: You provide at least 35 hours of care a week (this includes cooking, cleaning, medical help, or just being there for daily tasks).

• The Person You Care For: They must receive a qualifying benefit like PIP (Daily Living component), Attendance Allowance, or DLA (middle or highest care rate).

• Earnings: You can work, but your weekly earnings (after tax, NI, and half your pension contributions) must be £196 or less

• Education: You aren't in full-time education (more than 21 hours a week).

• Residency: You’ve lived in NI for at least two of the last three years and have the right to claim public funds.

How can I apply for Carers Allowance in Northern Ireland?

Before you start, you’ll need a few things:

• Your national Insurance number (if you have a partner you’ll need theirs too)

• Bank or building society details (unless you get your State Pension)

• Employment details and latest payslip if you’re working

• P45 if you’ve recently finished work

• Course details if you’re studying

• Details of any expenses, for example pension contributions or the cost of caring for your children or the disabled person while you’re at work
  
  

You also need details of the person you care for. You need their:

• Date of birth and address

• National Insurance number if they’re 16 or over

• Disability Living Allowance reference if they’re under 16

Once you have those, you can apply for Carers Allowance in a few different ways.

• Online: You can apply online at the NIDirect government website. 

• Form: You can download an application form or ask the Disability and Carers Service to send you one

Claiming other support

If you qualify for Carer's Allowance, you may also be entitled to:

• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

• Employment and Support Allowance (income related)

• Income Support

• Pension Credit

• Housing Benefit and Rates Relief

• Universal Credit

How does Carer’s Allowance affect my other benefits?

Understanding how Carer’s Allowance interacts with other support can be a bit of a puzzle, but it’s a crucial piece of your financial planning. The allowance can affect other benefits that you, or the person you care for, receive. 

Your current benefits

If you start receiving Carer's Allowance, you could qualify for a ‘carer premium.’ This is extra money paid within any means-tested benefits you may claim. This includes the following:

• Income Support

• Employment and Support Allowance (income related)

• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

• Universal Credit

• Housing Benefit

• Rate Relief

If you are unsure or would like to find out more about the carer premium, you can contact the Disability and Carers Service. 

Benefits of the person you care for

When you receive Carer's Allowance, the person you care for may stop getting:

• The severe disability premium in their income-related benefit

• The extra amount for severe disability in their Pension Credit

Carefree Respite Breaks: A Vital Complement to Financial Support 

While Carers Allowance helps financially, a true break often means time away. That’s where Carefree comes in.

A break isn't a luxury; it’s a necessity. Carefree transforms vacant hotel rooms into vital escapes for carers who need them most. We’ve seen how just two days of 'me-time' can change everything. It’s more than just a hotel stay, it’s a chance to relax, recharge, and do something that is purely for you

• 88% of our carers say that they would never have been able to take a break without us

• 86% felt more able to cope with their caring role after a Carefree break!

• 95% felt that a break vastly improved their well-being

  
  

You’ll need to provide proof of identity and your caring status. Upload documents, or nominate someone as a referee.

• Browse break opportunities from anywhere in the UK
  
  

• Select one, wait for your confirmation, and get ready for some well-earned relaxation!
  
  

• What are you waiting for? Take the first step towards a well-earned break today!

And starting this now, you can book two breaks per year!