UK households can get up to £4,495.40 per year from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) from April if they meet a ‘35 hours rule’.

The DWP can provide a weekly payment if you care for someone at least 35 hours per week and they get certain benefits. This can involve helping with simple things like doing someone’s washing or cooking, taking them to GP or hospital appointments, or carrying out other general household tasks. The payment, known as Carer’s Allowance, is currently worth £83.30 per week, but it’s due to increase to £86.45 from April, which would give eligible claimants £4,495.50 per year once the new rates take effect.

You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for and you can’t get any extra money if you care for more than one person.

The DWP will issue the payment either weekly in advance, or every four weeks, so claimants can get around £345.80 per month under the new rates from April.

To be eligible for Carer’s Allowance, you must care for someone at least 35 hours per week and they must be getting one of the following benefits:

• Personal Independence Payment – daily living component
• Disability Living Allowance – the middle or highest care rate
• Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance – the middle or highest care rate
• Attendance Allowance
• Pension Age Disability Payment
• Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Child Disability Payment – the middle or highest care rate
• Adult Disability Payment – daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate

As the carer, there are certain criteria that you must meet to qualify for the payment, including spending a minimum of 35 hours per week looking after someone. The DWP explains: “You need to spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone. This can include:

• helping with washing and cooking
• taking the person you care for to a doctor’s appointment
• helping with household tasks, like managing bills and shopping.

Claimants must also be aged 16 or over, live in England or Wales, not be in full-time education or studying for 21 hours a week or more, and have earnings that are £196 or less per week after tax, National Insurance and expenses. If you meet the eligibility criteria and live in Scotland, you need to apply for Carer Support Payment instead.

If you share care responsibilities with another person then only one of you can claim the allowance.

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It’s worth noting that Carer’s Allowance can affect other benefits that you receive and you will have to pay tax on it if your income is over the Personal Allowance threshold of £12,570.

For each week you get the allowance you’ll automatically get National Insurance credits as well, which count towards your State Pension, and you may also be able to apply for other support, including a Council Tax Reduction, Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or unemployed, or Pension Credit.

You can apply via the government website and claims can be backdated by up to three months.