People who claim Carer's Allowance should be aware of various changes in circumstance that they must inform the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about or risk losing their payments. These include an increase in your income, starting or leaving full-time education or starting a job.
However, unpaid carers may not realise that taking more than four weeks of foreign holidays during a six-month period may also affect their entitlement to the benefit, the Daily Record reports. Therefore, if you claim Carer's Allowance and are planning more than one getaway this year, you should check the guidance on GOV.UK.
The DWP states: “You can carry on claiming Carer’s Allowance if you take up to four weeks holiday out of a 26-week period. Tell the office that deals with your benefit that you’ll be away.”
READ MORE: DWP could stop Carer's Allowance and take you to court if you fail to report these changes
Although additional advice on the Independent Age website explains that if you are going abroad temporarily with the person you care for, and they receive certain benefits, the duration of your trip can be extended. Qualifying benefits for this include Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance.
If you move permanently to a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you could be able to continue receiving Carer's Allowance, or make a new claim – find out more on GOV.UK here.
The benefit is for people who care for someone else for at least 35 hours a week and that person receives certain benefits. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
Around 937,000 people were receiving weekly payments of £69.70 for Carer's Allowance in the UK in May 2022, according to the DWP. The benefit will increase by 10.1% to £76.75 a week in April when all benefits rise in line with inflation.
People on Carer's Allowance may be able to access other forms of support, such as a Council Tax reduction, other support from their local council, or Universal Credit if they are on a low income or out of work.
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