This is paid to help you look after someone with substantial care needs.

Carer’s Allowance is currently £86.45 a week to help you look after someone with substan-tial care needs.

You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for. You must be 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for them. You also must be earning less than £204 per week.

Carer’s Allowance is taxable and it can also affect your other benefits, and the benefits of the person you care for. Means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit are reduced by the same amount you receive from Carer’s Allowance.

These and many other provisos can make applying for Carer’s Allowance a double-edged sword, so care must be taken when assessing the pros and cons.