Can I get paid for looking after my elderly mother in the UK?: Your comprehensive guide

Oct 20, 2025 4 min read •

senior care Financial Support

According to Carers UK, there are approximately 6.5 million carers in the UK, many of whom are family members supporting elderly relatives.

For those providing regular care, the question of whether you can I get paid for looking after my elderly mother in the UK? is an important one, and the answer involves several potential routes to financial support and assistance.

Quick Summary

You can receive payment or financial support for caring for your elderly mother in the UK through government benefits like Carer's Allowance, or via Direct Payments from your local council. Your eligibility will depend on the hours you spend caring and your mother's specific care needs.

Key Points

Carer's Allowance: Provides a weekly payment if you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week, your mother receives a qualifying disability benefit, and your weekly earnings are below a set limit.
Direct Payments: An alternative where the local council gives your mother money to arrange and pay for her own care, which could potentially be used to pay you, though rules apply.
Carer's Assessment: You have a right to an assessment from your local council to identify your own support needs, which can result in a personal budget for your wellbeing.
Impact on Other Benefits: Claiming Carer's Allowance can affect other benefits for both you and your mother, such as the Severe Disability Premium. Always get a benefits check before claiming.
Other Forms of Support: If you don't qualify for Carer's Allowance, Carer's Credit can protect your State Pension. If on Universal Credit, you may also get the carer element.

Understanding Carer's Allowance

Carer's Allowance is the primary state benefit for those who spend a significant amount of time caring for someone with a disability. It is not means-tested based on your savings, so you can still claim it even if you have savings. However, there is an earnings limit you must adhere to.

Eligibility for Carer's Allowance

To be eligible, several conditions must be met by both you and the person you care for:

Your Care Commitment: You must care for your mother for at least 35 hours per week.
Your Income: You must not earn more than £196 per week after deductions (for the 2025/26 tax year).
Your Mother's Benefits: Your mother must be in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit, such as:
- Attendance Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Daily Living Component
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Care Component (at the middle or higher rate)
Your Status: You must be aged 16 or over, not in full-time education, and meet UK residency requirements.

Potential Impact on Your Mother's Benefits

It is crucial to understand that claiming Carer's Allowance can affect your mother's benefits. If she receives a Severe Disability Premium with any means-tested benefits, this will stop if you are awarded Carer's Allowance. You should seek independent advice, such as from Citizens Advice, to ensure the family's financial situation is improved, not worsened. A benefit check can help clarify the potential impacts before you claim.

How to Claim Carer's Allowance

The claim process is straightforward:

Check Eligibility: Use a benefits calculator or consult an adviser to confirm you meet the criteria and that claiming is the right financial decision for both of you.
Gather Information: You will need details about yourself, your employment, and your mother, including her National Insurance number and the qualifying disability benefit she receives.
Apply Online or by Post: You can apply online via the GOV.UK website, which is often the quickest method, or download and post a claim form.

Accessing Financial Support through Direct Payments

An alternative route to financial support is through Direct Payments, which are administered by your local council.

What are Direct Payments?

Direct Payments are an amount of money given to a person who has been assessed as needing care and support. This money allows them to purchase their own care and support services, rather than having the council arrange them directly.

How Direct Payments can fund family care

Your mother could potentially use her Direct Payments to pay you for your care, but strict rules apply, particularly if you live in the same household. A local authority will need to agree that paying a family member who lives with the person is necessary. If you do not live together, it is more straightforward.

The Carer's Assessment: As a carer, you have the right to a Carer's Assessment from your local council to determine your own support needs. This can result in a 'carer's personal budget' that you could receive as a Direct Payment for your own wellbeing, such as paying for a holiday or classes, not for caring for your mother directly.
The Needs Assessment: Your mother would undergo a separate needs assessment to determine her care needs. This leads to a personal budget, which can be received as Direct Payments.

Becoming an Employer

If your mother uses Direct Payments to pay you, she would legally become your employer. This carries significant responsibilities, including managing taxes, National Insurance, pension contributions, and holiday pay. There are often local support organisations that can help navigate this process.

Other Relevant Financial Support

Carer's Credit

If you don't qualify for Carer's Allowance, but care for someone for at least 20 hours a week, you can claim Carer's Credit. This is not a cash benefit, but rather a National Insurance credit that helps protect your State Pension entitlement by filling gaps in your NI record.

Universal Credit Carer Element

If you or your partner are on a low income and claim Universal Credit, you may be able to receive an extra amount called the 'carer element'. To qualify, you must care for someone for at least 35 hours a week who receives a qualifying disability benefit. If you also receive Carer's Allowance, this is taken into account when calculating your Universal Credit payment.

Comparison of Support Options


Feature	Carer's Allowance	Direct Payments (from mother's budget)
Funding Source	UK Government (DWP)	Local Council
Eligibility	Depends on your income & hours, and your mother's benefits.	Depends on your mother's assessed care needs (via a local council assessment).
Means-Tested	No (for savings)	Yes (for the person receiving care - a financial assessment is conducted)
Paying Family	Yes (provided other criteria met).	Possible, but depends on local council's agreement, especially if you live together.
Tax Implications	Taxable if your income exceeds the Personal Allowance.	Can be considered your earnings and may have tax/NI implications for your mother as employer.
Claim Process	Online or by post via GOV.UK.	Requires a local council needs assessment and agreement.

Conclusion: Navigating Your Options

For many, providing care for an elderly parent is a rewarding, but also demanding, experience. The potential to receive financial support can make a significant difference to both your and your mother's quality of life.

While the answer to 'Can I get paid for looking after my elderly mother in the UK?' is a clear 'yes', the specific route and implications depend on your unique situation. Your best first step is to seek a benefits check and a Carer's Assessment via your local council or an organisation like Citizens Advice to fully understand the options available and their potential impact on your household finances. Remember that this support is there to help you continue your vital role as a carer with greater financial security.

For more detailed guidance and support, visit the Carers UK website to explore the resources available to unpaid carers across the UK.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it does not function as an automatic salary. You must apply for specific government benefits like Carer's Allowance, or for your mother to receive Direct Payments from her local council, which she could then use to pay you. Eligibility rules and conditions apply to both routes.

For the 2025/26 tax year, you must not earn more than £196 per week after deductions like tax, National Insurance, and half of your pension contributions. If you earn even slightly over this amount, you will lose your Carer's Allowance.

Yes, but the rules can be more complex, particularly concerning Direct Payments. For Direct Payments, your local council will need to agree that paying a live-in family member is necessary. For Carer's Allowance, living with your mother does not prevent you from claiming, provided all other eligibility criteria are met.

A Carer's Assessment is a formal discussion with your local council about how your caring responsibilities affect you. It is your right to have one. It can lead to the council providing support or a personal budget for your own wellbeing, which is separate from the care your mother receives.

The quickest way is to apply online through the official GOV.UK website. You can also request a paper form by calling the Carer's Allowance Unit. You will need information about yourself, your mother, and her qualifying disability benefit to complete the application.

Direct Payments made to you for your own wellbeing (following a Carer's Assessment) are not counted as income and should not affect your benefits. However, if your mother pays you with her Direct Payments, this counts as earnings for you and could affect your benefits or tax situation.

Yes, if your mother is in Scotland, you should apply for Carer Support Payment instead of Carer's Allowance. The eligibility criteria are largely the same. Additionally, carers in Scotland who receive this payment may also receive a twice-yearly Carer's Allowance Supplement.

References

Medical Disclaimer

This content is for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding personal health decisions.