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‘I'm a carer: what can I claim?’
> ‘What else might I be entitled to if I’m entitled to Carer’s Allowance?’
>> ‘I am single, not in paid work, and am not planning to be in paid work (and I'm too young to get Pension Credit)’

The good news is that because you are classed as a carer, you are not expected to look for work, and therefore don’t have to be on Jobseeker's Allowance. In fact it is quite hard to get Jobseeker's Allowance if you’ve been awarded Carer’s Allowance, as caring for someone for 35 hours a week doesn’t fit with being available for and actively seeking work!

Now let’s look at each of the possible benefits…

Income Support


icon-warning1.jpgIf you are currently getting income based Employment and Support Allowance because you are unfit for work yourself think twice before ending this and claiming Income Support. This is because you may be entitled to more Employment and Support Allowance than Income Support. For example, if you are a single claimant in the support group you would be entitled to £54.05 per week if you stayed on ESA than if you moved to Income Support. You should still tell the Jobcentre Plus that you are now getting Carer’s Allowance, though, firstly because you are obliged to tell them about any changes and secondly because getting Carer’s Allowance entitles you to an additional increase of £34.60 in your income based Employment and Support Allowance (this last increase would be included in your Income Support calculation too, but you would lose the other additions).


Housing Benefit


icon-warning1.jpgIf you were getting Housing Benefit before for some other reason (for example, getting Jobseeker's Allowance, or working and being on low income) you should tell the local authority (council) that your circumstances have changed, otherwise you will be getting Housing Benefit for the wrong reason, and may end up being asked to pay back an overpayment

Council Tax Support


icon-warning1.jpgIf you were getting Council Tax Support before for some other reason (for example, getting Jobseeker's Allowance, or working and being on low income) you should tell the local authority (council) that your circumstances have changed, otherwise you will be getting Council Tax Support for the wrong reason, and may end up being asked to pay back an overpayment

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