The carer element of Universal Credit: extra money for unpaid carers

If you are a carer and you claim Universal Credit, there is an extra amount you may be entitled to called the carer element. It is often more valuable, and simpler, than people realise, and in many cases it is better than claiming Carer's Allowance. This guide explains the Universal Credit carer element, the 2026/27 amount, who can get it, and how it compares with Carer's Allowance.

What is the carer element?

The carer element is an extra amount added to your Universal Credit if you have regular caring responsibilities. It is paid on top of your standard allowance and any other elements you receive, such as for children or housing. For 2026/27 it is worth £209.34 a month, up from £201.68 the year before. Unlike Carer's Allowance, it is part of your Universal Credit rather than a separate weekly benefit.

Who can get it

You can get the carer element if you provide at least 35 hours a week of care for someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit, such as the daily living component of PIP, Attendance Allowance, the middle or highest care rate of DLA, Adult Disability Payment, or Armed Forces Independence Payment. As with Carer's Allowance, you do not need to live with or be related to the person you care for, and only one person can get the carer element for caring for a particular individual.

You do not need to claim Carer's Allowance

An important point is that you can get the Universal Credit carer element without claiming Carer's Allowance at all. Simply reporting your caring role to Universal Credit can trigger the element. This matters because Carer's Allowance counts as income for Universal Credit and reduces it pound for pound, so claiming Carer's Allowance on top often gives little or no extra money once your Universal Credit is adjusted.

Which is better: the element or Carer's Allowance?

For many people on Universal Credit, the carer element alone is the better route, because claiming Carer's Allowance as well usually just replaces part of your Universal Credit rather than adding to it. However, Carer's Allowance brings National Insurance credits and, for some, can be worth claiming for that reason, while in other cases claiming it could affect the benefits of the person you care for. The best choice depends on your circumstances, so a benefits check is worthwhile.

It removes work requirements

Getting the carer element does more than add money. It also means you are not expected to look for or prepare for work while you are caring, so your Claimant Commitment is adjusted to reflect your caring role. This recognises that caring for 35 hours a week is itself demanding, and removes the pressure of job-seeking requirements that would otherwise apply.

It can give a work allowance and benefit cap exemption

The carer element can also bring other advantages within Universal Credit. Carers usually have a work allowance, meaning you can earn a certain amount before your Universal Credit starts to reduce, and having caring responsibilities recognised can exempt your household from the benefit cap. These features can make a significant difference to your overall position, on top of the element itself.

How to claim

To get the carer element, report your caring responsibilities through your Universal Credit account, either when you first claim or by reporting a change of circumstances if you are already claiming. You will be asked about who you care for and which benefit they receive. Once it is accepted, the element is added to your monthly payment. Keep your journal updated if your caring role changes.

If your caring situation changes

Report any change in your caring role, such as caring for fewer than 35 hours a week, stopping caring, or the person you care for going into hospital or a care home or losing their disability benefit. These changes can affect your entitlement to the carer element, and reporting them promptly keeps your award correct and avoids an overpayment you would later have to repay.

A worked comparison

Imagine someone on Universal Credit who starts caring 35 hours a week. By reporting their caring role, they get the carer element of £209.34 added to their monthly payment. If they also claimed Carer's Allowance, that £86.45 a week would count as income and reduce their Universal Credit by a similar amount, so they would often be little or no better off in cash terms, although Carer's Allowance would give them National Insurance credits. This is why, for many Universal Credit claimants, the carer element alone is the simpler choice.

If you both care

If you live with a partner and you both care, whether for the same person or different people, only one carer element can be included for caring for any one individual, and the way it works in a joint claim depends on your circumstances. If you each care for a different qualifying person, you may each be able to have a carer element. It is worth getting advice so your joint claim includes everything you are entitled to.

Caring alongside other elements

The carer element sits alongside your other Universal Credit elements, such as those for children or housing, and is added to your maximum entitlement before earnings and other income are taken into account. Because it also brings a work allowance and can exempt you from the benefit cap, its value within your overall award can be greater than the headline figure suggests, which is another reason to make sure your caring role is recorded.

In short

The Universal Credit carer element is worth £209.34 a month in 2026/27, added on top of your standard allowance for caring at least 35 hours a week. You can get it without claiming Carer's Allowance, and for many people on Universal Credit it is the simpler and better route, as well as removing job-seeking requirements.

Get advice before claiming both

Because the interaction between the carer element and Carer's Allowance is not obvious, it is worth getting advice before you decide whether to claim Carer's Allowance on top of your Universal Credit. An adviser can work out whether claiming both leaves you better off, taking into account National Insurance credits and any effect on the benefits of the person you care for. Making the right choice from the start avoids losing money or causing an unexpected problem for the household.

Keeping your award right

Once the carer element is part of your Universal Credit, keep your journal up to date about your caring role, as changes such as the hours you provide, the person's benefits, or a hospital or care home stay can all affect it. Reporting changes promptly keeps your payment correct and avoids an overpayment. If you are ever unsure whether something needs reporting, it is safer to mention it in your journal than to leave it.

Where to get help

Free advice on whether to claim the carer element, Carer's Allowance, or both, is available from Citizens Advice and Carers UK. For the standalone carer's benefit, see our guide to Carer's Allowance, and our guide to the Universal Credit elements shows how it fits into your payment.