DWP urged to bring in £36 rule with thousands set to benefit: Good News are Coming

Many older carers in the UK are missing out on important financial help they deserve. Experts are now urging the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to introduce a new £36 per week payment that could help thousands of unpaid carers who are struggling to make ends meet. New reports show how the current system is too confusing, causing many people not to claim the benefits they are entitled to.

What Is Pension Credit and Carer Addition?

Pension Credit is a benefit for people of State Pension age who have a low income. It helps top up their income to a minimum level. There’s also something called Carer Addition, which gives extra money to people who are caring for someone else.

This Carer Addition can be worth up to £2,412.80 per year, which is around £46 per week. But sadly, many older carers don’t even know this money exists or how to apply for it.

The Confusing Process Is Holding People Back

To get Carer Addition, a person needs to apply for Carer’s Allowance—even if they won’t actually receive it. That’s because some people don’t qualify for Carer’s Allowance payments if their State Pension is higher. However, by applying, they still show an ‘underlying entitlement,’ which is needed to unlock Carer Addition through Pension Credit.

A survey by Carers UK found that 75% of older carers didn’t know this rule. This lack of awareness is one big reason why as many as 65,000 carers may be missing out on this much-needed support.

Carers Are Struggling Financially

The same survey found that nearly half of older carers feel worried or stressed about money. Many of them say they don’t get clear information about what benefits they can claim. Some even find the benefits system more confusing than a cryptic crossword puzzle.

With rising costs, especially heating bills in winter, not getting the right support can make life very hard for carers—many of whom are elderly, in poor health, and working hard to care for someone else.

The Call for a New £36.60 Weekly Boost

Carers UK wants the Government to increase the Carer Addition by £36.60 per week. This would help around 20,000 carers escape deep poverty and cost about £300 million per year. While it’s a big number, experts say this payment would make a huge difference in the lives of carers who are giving their time and energy without getting paid.

Helen Walker, CEO of Carers UK, says the current system is too hard to understand. She believes the Government should simplify the process and help more people get the money they’re owed—especially before next winter, when costs will rise again.

What Needs to Change?

Charity groups like Age UK and Carers UK are asking the Government to take a two-step approach:

First, work with charities to help people learn about Pension Credit and how to claim it.

Second, create a better system that automatically identifies people who might be eligible, so they don’t have to go through the process themselves.

This way, more older carers can get the support they need without feeling lost in paperwork.

Thousands of older carers across the UK are missing out on financial help simply because the system is too complex. By raising the Carer Addition and making the process easier to understand, the Government can help reduce stress and lift many pensioners out of poverty. These unpaid carers are doing important work, and they deserve proper support—not confusion and struggle.

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