Up to 1.4 million people could receive the money at the end of this week.
The cash will be sent this Friday (Image: Getty)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will send £345 to thousands of bank accounts on Friday (May 22). As it is the late May Bank Holiday weekend, the DWP will pay benefits earlier to those eligible.
Those who were set to receive their Carer’s Allowance payment on Monday (May 25) will instead get it on Friday. However, if your regular payment falls on a different day, it will not be impacted by the bank holiday and will arrive as normal. According to the DWP, around 1.4 million people in the UK claim Carer’s Allowance. The welfare benefit is designed to help people who spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with an illness or disability.
Carer’s Allowance is a weekly payment of £86.45 which equates to £345.80 per month. Claimants automatically get National Insurance credits which protects their state pension record.
It has been confirmed that the benefit will be paid on Friday due to the upcoming bank holiday weekend. The DWP always pays you on the last working day before if your money is due to be sent on a bank holiday.
For further details regarding your payment schedule, you can visit GOV.UK. Claimants can also log in to their account via the Carer’s Allowance service.
The DWP pays claimants early on bank holidays (Image: Getty)
What is Carer’s Allowance?
DWP said: “You could get £86.45 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
“You do not get paid extra if you care for more than one person. If someone else also cares for the same person as you, only one of you can claim Carer’s Allowance.”
They added: “You can choose to be paid weekly in advance or every 4 weeks. It will be paid into an account, for example your bank account.”
Carers UK continued: “If you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with an illness or disability, you may be eligible for extra money called Carer’s Allowance. It is paid at a rate of £86.45 per week (from April 2026/27).”
Carer’s Allowance equates to £345.80 per month (Image: Getty)
Who can claim Carer’s Allowance?
You may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance if all the following apply:
- You look after someone for at least 35 hours a week.
- You don’t earn more than £204 per week (from 6 April 2026) after certain deductions including tax, national insurance and certain expenses.
- The person you care for receives a disability benefit.
- You’re aged 16 or over.
- You’re not in full-time education.
- You meet UK residence and presence conditions and UK immigration conditions.