Updated on January 31, 2024
If you’re a UK resident providing care to someone in need and qualify for a career’s allowance, this post is tailored for you. Join us as we delve into the details of the potential increase in Career’s Allowance for 2024: What can you expect in terms of the raised amount?
Careers Allowance Increase
The main financial support provided by the UK government for caregivers is known as the Career’s Allowance. Interestingly, you may be eligible to claim it even if you see yourself as a caregiver without a familial connection to the person you’re caring for. This allowance is disbursed either every four weeks or on a weekly basis, with the amount being updated annually in April.
Career’s Allowance is distributed every four weeks, amounting to £76.75 per week for the period spanning April 2023 to April 2024. The government has allocated an initial payment of £3 billion in 2023 for the funding of the Carer’s Allowance. Furthermore, there is a projected increase in real benefits to £3.6 billion by the financial year 2024–2025.
If you’re curious about the Career’s Allowance Increase in the UK, be sure to read this post until the end for all the relevant details.
What is Careers Allowance In the UK?
Career’s Allowance is a weekly social welfare payment designed for individuals providing care to elderly, disabled, or ill individuals in need of assistance. It’s important to note that Career’s Allowance may not be applicable to you if you already receive certain additional benefits, such as a State Pension.
Career’s Allowance may be paid at a half-rate if you are already receiving another social assistance payment. If you are providing care for an individual who is receiving additional benefits and has a disability, chronic illness, or other medical condition, and you dedicate at least 35 hours per week to caregiving, you could qualify for Carer’s Allowance.
If your application for Career’s Allowance is accepted, you will retain an “underlying entitlement” to it. This means you may be eligible for additional support in the form of funding for means-tested benefits like Housing Benefit or Pension Credit.
Careers Allowance Increase Overview
| Post Title | Carers Allowance Increase |
| Country | UK |
| Organisation | His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs or HMRC |
| Carer Amount in 2023 | £76.75 |
| Carer Amount in 2024 | £81.90 |
What is the Expected Increase in Careers Allowance Amount in 2024?
On April 1, 2024, the National Living Wage is set to increase by 9.8% to £11.44, with the age threshold being lowered from 23 to 21 years old. To uphold the triple lock and address inflation, the government has raised caregiver benefits.
The indexation, effective from January 1, 2024, is expected to result in a 6.0% increase in payments for over 600,000 Australians receiving carer support. If you are providing care for two or more individuals, your Carer’s Allowance rate is boosted by 50% (maximum) per week.
For caregivers dedicating at least 35 hours per week but earning less than £139, the Carer’s Allowance rate has been raised from £76.75 to £81.90 in 2023 and 2024, equivalent to approximately £2.19 per hour. It’s noteworthy that caregivers are only required to pay tax on the allowance if they have other sources of income, such as pension funds, as the allowance is otherwise taxable.
Careers Allowance Amount 2024
On October 10, 2023, the 2024 budget was unveiled, featuring a multibillion-dollar package encompassing one-time payments, tax breaks, and increased expenditures. Currently, Carer’s Allowance covers the first €350 of income for a single person. The upcoming week’s payment is set to increase to €450. For couples, the comparable range is expected to be between €750 and €900 per week.
As per the Budget 2024 announcement, individuals receiving the highest amount of Career’s Allowance are slated to receive an increase of €12 per week starting in January 2024. The adjustment in rates will extend to both qualifying adults and those whose payment rates are reduced, with increases being proportionate to their respective circumstances.
The Carer’s Allowance income is set to increase to €450 for an individual and €900 for a couple starting from June 2024. This adjustment, with the Carer Allowance rising to $153.50 per fortnight, will provide significant additional financial support to a considerable number of carers.
Final Words
The person you are caring for doesn’t necessarily have to be a family member or roommate; however, only the individual providing care for that particular person is eligible to apply for Carer’s Allowance. If you are providing care for multiple individuals, the allowance amount won’t increase.
For a comprehensive list of payments set to increase on January 1, 2024, along with their updated rates and thresholds, you can refer to the Department of Social Services website.
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