Benefits if you stop working to care
You may be eligible to claim benefits if you stop doing paid work, depending on the reasons why you stop working.
There are benefits available to top up your income if you cannot work because of caring, disability or age, and are on a low income. Rob Sherratt, Advice and Advocacy Specialist, Dementia Carers Count
What benefits can I claim if I stop working to care?
If you stop work to care for someone then you may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance.
This could be topped up by Universal Credit if you are on a low income.
New Style Employment and Support Allowance
If you stop work because of illness or disability, and you have paid the appropriate National Insurance contributions, then you might be eligible for New Style Employment and Support Allowance. This is not means-tested, but it could be topped up by Universal Credit if you are on a low income.
Universal Credit
If you have not made enough National Insurance contributions for New Style Employment and Support Allowance, or are still on a low income, then you may be eligible for Universal Credit to guarantee you a minimum income if you are unable to work because of illness or disability.
Universal Credit is the means-tested benefit for working age adults and is assessed on the income and savings of you as a single person, or jointly if you are married, in a civil partnership or co-habiting.
If you are already receiving one of the “legacy benefits” of Housing Benefit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, then this will stop when you or your partner claim Universal Credit.
The plan is for all those on working age legacy benefits to be migrated over to Universal Credit by March 2026.
State Pension
If you stop work because you have reached State Pension Age and have paid the appropriate National Insurance contributions then you will be eligible for the State Pension. If you are on a low income then you might be eligible for the pension age means-tested benefit Pension Credit.
Here to help
Our specialists are here to help. We can talk through what support you may be entitled to and help you with form filling and making claims.
Thanks to your support thus far, I’m probably in a much better place than I would have been at this point without your guidance, so – as always – many, many thanks for being there. Dementia carer
Frequently Asked Questions about financial support available if you stop working to care
Yes. There are benefits available to top up your income if you cannot work because of caring, disability or age, and are on a low income.
Call our Carer Support Line for advice
Call our Carer Support Line with any questions you have about what financial support you may be entitled to and to ask for help with completing paperwork.
Read Next
What financial support can carers access?
Getting the right financial support is vital for carers. Very often the person affected by dementia will need to pay for additional care and support. For the carer, the additional caring responsibilities can mean having to reduce working hours or potentially stopping work altogether.
Claiming Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is a disability benefit which the person you are caring for may be entitled to if they need support to complete daily activities or supervision to stay safe at home.
Claiming Pension Credit
Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit for people of state pension age. It is a top up benefit for people on low incomes. It can be a ‘passport’ to other benefits.
