About Home Carer’s Allowance
Home Carer’s Allowance is for carers of working age who spend 35 hours (or more) per week caring for someone who requires a very high level of personal care.
The allowance is designed for carers who can't work full time or who have to substantially reduce their working week because of their caring commitments.
Carers may have their contribution record protected with credits so that they do not lose their own right to future Social Security benefits.
Taxes and Home Carer’s Allowance
You must tell the Income Tax Department the amount of Home Carer’s Allowance you receive each year as the allowance is taxable.
Amount of Home Carer’s Allowance
The Home Carer’s Allowance is currently £1,132.04 and is paid every 4 weeks.
Qualifying for Home Carer’s Allowance
You are likely to qualify for Home Carer’s Allowance if:
- the person you are caring for has been assessed as needing a high level of personal care
- you are below Social Security pension age
- you spend at least 35 hours caring for the person
- you have a contribution record totalling at least 6 months contributions and you have a full contribution record for at least one month during the previous quarter but one before your entitlement to Home Carer’s Allowance first arises or you have a married woman’s election
- the cared for person has been living in Jersey for the last 12 months
Home Carer’s Allowance can't be paid at the same time as other benefits, for example maternity allowance, incapacity benefit or old age pension.
How to claim Home Carer's Allowance
As the carer, you must complete and return the Home Carer’s Allowance claim form along with your birth certificate or a certified copy.
Contact Customer and Local Services either by telephone or email to obtain a copy of the Home Carers form.
You should make your claim as soon as you think you meet the conditions. Don't delay in sending in the claim, even if you can't send your birth certificate.
Assessment of the person you care for
The person you are caring for must be assessed by the Social Security Department as needing the highest level of personal care.
The person you are caring for will need to submit an impairment claim form at Customer and Local Services.
Social Security will also need to see an original (or certified copy) birth certificate for the person you are caring for.
Finding out if your claim is successful
We will write to you telling you about the decision on your claim and can tell you what to do if you're not happy with the decision.
Working and claiming Home Carer’s Allowance
You can work and claim Home Carer's Allowance providing you:
- still spend at least 35 hours a week caring for the person
- the carer must not undertake paid work for an aggregate period in excess of 15 hours in a relevant week
Pensions and claiming Home Carer’s Allowance
A carer can't receive Home Carer’s Allowance at the same time as the Social Security old age pension.
If you're entitled to Home Carer’s Allowance and have reached state pension age, you can choose to receive whichever is more favourable to you.
Claiming Home Carer's Allowance and Income Support
If you claim income support and start claiming Home Carer's Allowance, your income support will be reduced by the amount of your Home Carer's Allowance award. This is because Home Carer's Allowance is considered as income.
Changes in your circumstances
You must tell us immediately if:
- you stop looking after the person or you no longer spend 35 hours a week caring for that person
- the person you are caring for no longer needs a very high level of personal care
- the person you are caring for goes into hospital or any other accommodation provided wholly or mainly at public expense (this could be in Jersey or in the UK or elsewhere)
- the person you are caring for goes into respite care (this could be in Jersey or in the UK or elsewhere)
- you or the person you are caring for change address
- you or the person you are caring for leave the Island, including holidays
- your earnings from employment/self employment increase
- you are considering taking on part time work or adding to your hours
- the person you are caring for dies
Other financial help for carers
Carers can also receive Income Support, which will depend on income, savings, assets and personal circumstances.
If you think you may qualify for Income Support, you should contact the Customer and Local Services department.
Income Support
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