I have recently found out about carers premium according to various websites I am entitled to it. I recieve carers allowance and income support but do not recieve carers premium! Is it paid on top of these benefits or is it included? Thanks.
Hi Joanne.
From elsewhere on this site :
Carer's Allowance | Carers UK
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Means-tested benefits
If you are paid Carer’s Allowance, it will count as income when your means-tested benefits are calculated. However your means-tested benefit calculations will include a carer premium, carer addition or carer element.
The carer premium is an extra amount of money > included in the calculation of Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Reduction (Rate Relief in Northern Ireland).
The carer addition is an equivalent amount paid with Pension Credit.
The carer element is an equivalent amount paid with Universal Credit.
The carer premium and carer addition are both worth £36.85 a week. The carer element is worth £160.20 a month (approx. £37 a week).
What this means in practice is that if you are paid Carer’s Allowance and are already getting a means-tested benefit, your means-tested benefit will decrease slightly, but overall you are likely to be better off by the amount of the carer premium, carer addition or carer element.