Providing care for a loved one with a disability or long-term health condition is a full-time responsibility, often undertaken without formal pay or recognition. In the UK, if you’re offering 35 or more hours of care per week, you may be entitled to receive the Carer’s Element of Universal Credit—a significant but underutilised form of financial support.
This in-depth 2025 guide explains how to apply, who qualifies, how much you could receive, and common mistakes to avoid. It’s crafted specifically for UK residents looking for accurate, practical information from a trusted source.
What Is the Carer’s Element of Universal Credit?
The Carer’s Element is a specific part of Universal Credit aimed at supporting individuals who provide unpaid care for someone with substantial care needs. Unlike Carer’s Allowance, which is a separate benefit with strict earnings rules, the Carer’s Element is embedded within the Universal Credit system, meaning you don’t need to make a separate claim.
Introduced to acknowledge the vital contribution of unpaid carers, this element is designed to offset the financial pressures that come from reducing work hours or giving up employment altogether due to caring responsibilities.
As of the 2025/26 financial year, the Carer’s Element adds £198.31 per month (around £2,379 annually) to your total Universal Credit payment. This amount can make a tangible difference in managing living costs, especially as prices continue to rise across the UK.
Who Is Eligible?
To qualify for the Carer’s Element, you must satisfy a number of key requirements set by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). These include:
- Providing at least 35 hours of care per week. This care can include helping someone with washing, dressing, cooking, medication, supervision, transportation, or emotional support.
- The person you care for must receive one of the following:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – daily living component
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) – middle or highest rate for care
- Attendance Allowance
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- You are not already being paid to provide this care through employment.
- Only one person can claim the Carer’s Element for each cared-for individual.
Additionally, if you live in the same household as the person you’re caring for, you’re still eligible, and there’s no requirement to be a family member or spouse. You can also be in full-time education, although this may affect eligibility for other benefits like Carer’s Allowance.
How to apply for Carers Element of Universal Credit?
Applying for the Carer’s Element is straightforward, whether you’re already on Universal Credit or applying for the first time.
If You Already Receive Universal Credit:
- Log in to your Universal Credit account at gov.uk.
- Navigate to the “Report a change of circumstances” section.
- Choose the option that says “I care for someone who is disabled”.
- You will then be asked to provide:
- The full name, date of birth, and National Insurance number of the person you care for.
- Confirmation that you provide care for at least 35 hours per week.
- Information about any other carers involved, if applicable.
Once submitted, the DWP will review your claim and make a decision. You’ll be updated via your online journal or a letter.
If You’re Applying for Universal Credit for the First Time:
- Visit www.gov.uk/universal-credit.
- Begin your application and fill in your details.
- When prompted, indicate that you are a carer.
- Submit the same details as above regarding the person you care for.
This ensures the Carer’s Element is considered during your first Universal Credit assessment, and the payment can be included from the start of your award.
How Much Is the Carer’s Element Worth?
For the 2025/26 financial year, the Carer’s Element is worth £198.31 per month. This totals £2,379.72 annually, making it one of the most substantial support measures available for unpaid carers under the Universal Credit umbrella.
Importantly, this payment is in addition to any of the following elements you may already be receiving:
- Standard allowance – based on your age and whether you’re in a couple
- Child element – if you have dependent children
- Childcare costs element – for working parents
- Housing element – if you rent your home
The Carer’s Element doesn’t affect other elements and is not means-tested beyond the standard Universal Credit assessment.
Can You Work and Still Qualify?
Yes, you can work and still claim the Carer’s Element. This is one of the key differences between Carer’s Element and Carer’s Allowance.
While Carer’s Allowance has strict income limits (you must earn less than £151 per week after deductions), the Carer’s Element has no specific earnings cap. Instead, your overall Universal Credit award is adjusted based on your income and circumstances, but the Carer’s Element remains separately recognisable if you meet the care requirement.
Additionally:
- You don’t have to stop working or reduce your hours unless your situation demands it.
- If you’re a joint claimant, each partner can claim a Carer’s Element if they care for different people.
- If you’re working, your work coach may reduce your work-related requirements, acknowledging your caring responsibilities.
This flexibility makes the Carer’s Element far more accessible to working-age carers balancing employment and unpaid care.
What If Your Situation Changes?
Life changes, and so do caring arrangements. It’s vital to update your Universal Credit account as soon as there are changes in either your caring role or the condition of the person you care for. Key scenarios include:
- The person you care for stops receiving a qualifying disability benefit.
- You reduce your care hours below 35 per week.
- Another person (such as a sibling or co-carer) begins claiming Carer’s Allowance for the same person.
Failure to report these changes can result in overpayments, which the DWP can later reclaim. It can also affect your work requirements or eligibility for other elements.
You can report changes easily through your Universal Credit online journal, or by speaking directly with your work coach or through the helpline.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Here are some of the most frequent mistakes made when applying for the Carer’s Element—and how to avoid them:
1. Not Reporting Your Caring Role Promptly
Many carers assume they need to wait until the person they care for receives a formal diagnosis or benefit. But the Carer’s Element only applies from the date you report the change, not when you start caring. Delaying could mean missing out on months of support.
2. Believing You Can’t Qualify If You’re Employed
This is a widespread myth. You absolutely can work and still qualify, as long as your caring hours meet the minimum threshold of 35 hours per week.
3. Providing Incomplete Details
Missing details such as the cared-for person’s NI number, date of birth, or benefit type can delay your application or result in a rejection. Double-check all your entries before submitting.
4. Unaware That Someone Else Is Already Claiming
Only one person can claim for each cared-for individual. If a sibling, partner, or another friend is already receiving Carer’s Allowance or a Carer’s Element for that person, your claim will likely be denied.
Where to Get Help With Your Claim
Navigating the Universal Credit system can be confusing, especially when you’re also providing daily care. If you need help, here are some trusted UK organisations that offer free assistance:
- Citizens Advice – Offers help with online applications, appeals, and benefit entitlements: citizensadvice.org.uk
- Universal Credit Helpline – Call 0800 328 5644 for direct support
- Jobcentre Plus – Local centres offering face-to-face guidance and support
- Carers UK – A national charity with helplines, downloadable resources, and links to local carer support services: carersuk.org
These organisations can help you determine eligibility, fill out forms, and challenge decisions if necessary.
Is It Worth Claiming the Carer’s Element?
Without question—yes. The Carer’s Element provides over £2,300 per year in additional support and is designed to help ease the financial pressure on those who provide unpaid care.
Beyond the money, it also formally recognises your contribution as a carer within the Universal Credit system, which can:
- Reduce your job-search requirements
- Protect your National Insurance record (if you also qualify for Carer’s Allowance)
- Give you access to additional support services
If you’re regularly helping someone manage their day-to-day life, then you are a carer. And it’s time your efforts were supported and acknowledged.
Final Thoughts
Thousands of unpaid carers across the UK are missing out on crucial financial help simply because they don’t realise they qualify. The Carer’s Element is not a handout—it’s recognition of the vital work you’re doing behind the scenes, often at great personal sacrifice.
Take action today. Whether you’re applying for Universal Credit for the first time or already receiving it, adding the Carer’s Element could make a real difference to your finances and wellbeing.
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