If the person you're looking after needs constant care and attention as a result of an injury or disease, they may be entitled to Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA). Once they get CAA, you may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance if you meet all the other eligibility criteria.
CAA can only be paid if the person you look after is also claiming either Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or a War Disablement Pension.
If Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is paid
If the person you look after is claiming Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, they must usually be considered 100% disabled, but there are circumstances where the benefit is paid if disability is less than 100%. A medical examination will be carried out to determine the extent of the disability.
The person with the disability would also need to show that they need daily care and attention as a result of their disability, and that they're likely to need that care for a long time. The daily help that you provide as an unpaid carer is counted for these purposes.
The type of care and attention needed must be connected to their disability or illness. Simply helping them with dressing, undressing or ordinary housework is not sufficient.
CAA if a War Disablement Pension is paid
To be eligible for CAA, the person you look after must need personal help for the same reasons that they're paid War Disablement Pension. The War Disablement Pension would need to be 80% or more.
How much is CAA?
There are different weekly rates of CAA, which depend on the extent of the disability of the person you're looking after and the amount of care that they need. They are:
- Exceptional rate of £126.60 (if they're severely disabled and need attendance all the time).
- Intermediate rate of £94.95.
- Normal maximum rate of £63.30.
There's also a 'part-time' rate of £31.65 for those who need part-time attendance only.
How to claim CAA
If the person you look after is paid Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit at the 100% rate, they may be awarded CAA based on a medical opinion without having to make a separate claim.
Some people will have been awarded Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit at the 100% rate, only to be told later on that they need CAA. Under those circumstances, a claim can be made on Form BI104, which can be obtained from a local Jobcentre.
If the person you look after is paid War Disablement Pension, they can claim CAA on Form WPA 0003. This form can be obtained from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency website, or by telephone on 0800 169 2277.
Will CAA affect other claims for benefit?
If the person you look after is eligible for CAA, they will not be eligible to receive Attendance Allowance or the care component of Disability Living Allowance as well. However, if those benefits would amount to more than CAA, the person can be paid CAA with a top-up to bring them to the same level.
CAA may affect means-tested benefits paid to the person you look after. These include, for example, Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
Remember that if the person you look after is paid CAA, you may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance if you meet all the other eligibility criteria.
The official online source of government information on benefits is Directgov.
