How to Get Paid by the Government to Take Care of a Family Member

If you’re spending your days helping a parent, spouse, or other family member with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, cooking, or managing medication-you’re not just being a good relative. You’re doing real, demanding work. And in many cases, the government can pay you for it.

This isn’t welfare. It’s not a handout. It’s recognition that family caregivers are essential to the health system. In the UK, especially in Scotland, there are several ways you can get paid to care for a loved one. You don’t need to be a professional. You just need to meet the criteria-and know where to look.

Carer’s Allowance: The Most Common Path

The main way people get paid to care for a family member in the UK is through Carer’s Allowance. If you’re looking after someone for at least 35 hours a week, and they receive certain disability benefits, you could get £81.90 per week (as of April 2025).

Who qualifies? You must be 16 or older, not in full-time education, and not earning more than £151 a week after deductions. The person you care for must be getting one of these benefits:

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the middle or highest rate for care
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at the daily living component
• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance (part of Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment

You don’t need to live with the person you’re caring for, but you must be the one providing most of their daily care. Many people assume they need to be a full-time carer in the traditional sense-but you can still qualify if you’re helping with meals, reminding them to take pills, or helping them get to appointments.

One common mistake? People think they can’t claim if they’re working. You can work and still get Carer’s Allowance-as long as your net earnings are under the limit. Many carers work part-time, run small side gigs, or do freelance tasks and still qualify.

Direct Payments: More Control, More Flexibility

If the person you’re caring for has been assessed by Social Work Services in Scotland, they might be eligible for Direct Payments. This is money given directly to the person needing care so they can hire their own support-including you.

This isn’t a benefit you apply for yourself. It’s something the person you care for must request after a care needs assessment. But you can help them start the process. Once approved, they can choose to pay you as their personal assistant. You become their employee. That means you get to set your hours, negotiate your rate (within local authority limits), and even use the money for other support like respite care or home adaptations.

Many families prefer this route because it gives them control. You’re not just receiving a payment-you’re building a formal care arrangement. And since you’re employed, you can get holiday pay, sick pay, and National Insurance credits that count toward your State Pension.

How to start? Contact your local council’s Adult Social Care team. In Edinburgh, you can call 0131 529 4567 or visit edinburgh.gov.uk/socialwork. Ask for a carer’s assessment for the person you’re supporting-and mention you’d like to explore Direct Payments.

Scotland’s Carer’s Benefit Top-Ups

Scotland goes further than the rest of the UK. If you’re on Carer’s Allowance, you might also qualify for extra help:

• Carer’s Allowance Supplement: Paid twice a year by Social Security Scotland-currently £230.10 per payment. No extra application needed if you’re already getting Carer’s Allowance.
• Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment: If you’re caring for a child under 6 and have a low income, you could get up to £775.
• Child Winter Heating Assistance: If you care for a child under 6 and get certain benefits, you can get £250 in winter.

These aren’t small amounts. Together, they can add over £700 a year to your income-just for doing what you’re already doing.

What If the Person You Care For Doesn’t Qualify for Benefits?

This is a tough spot. Many older people don’t get DLA or PIP because they’ve been turned down, never applied, or their condition doesn’t meet the strict criteria. But that doesn’t mean you’re out of options.

First, check if they’re eligible for a reassessment. The rules changed in 2024 to be more inclusive for people with fluctuating conditions like dementia or Parkinson’s. If they’ve been denied before, reapplying is often worth it.

Second, ask about Community Care Grants. These are one-off payments from your local council to help with urgent care needs. They won’t pay you a regular wage, but they might cover equipment, transport, or even a few hours of professional care so you can take a break.

Third, look into Local Authority Carer Support Schemes. In Edinburgh, the council runs a Carer Support Service that offers free training, counseling, and even small grants for carers-no matter if you’re paid or not. You can get help with stress, respite care, or even help filling out forms.

Common Mistakes Carers Make

Too many people give up before they even start. Here are the top three mistakes:

1. Thinking they’re not eligible because they’re working-You can work and still get Carer’s Allowance, as long as your earnings are under £151/week.
2. Waiting for the person they care for to apply-You can apply for Carer’s Allowance yourself, even if the person you care for doesn’t want to be involved. You just need their benefit details.
3. Not claiming backdated payments-You can claim Carer’s Allowance up to three months back. If you’ve been caring for over a year and never applied, you could get hundreds in arrears.

Another big one: people assume they need to quit their job. You don’t. You don’t even need to be the only carer. If you share care with siblings, you can still each claim Carer’s Allowance if you both meet the 35-hour rule.

What Happens If You’re Paid?

Some carers worry about losing other benefits. That’s a real concern. Getting Carer’s Allowance might reduce your Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, or Income Support. But it’s not always a loss.

Carer’s Allowance counts as a qualifying benefit for extra help with housing, council tax, and even free bus travel. Many carers end up with more total income-even if their Universal Credit drops-because of these added supports.

Use the Carer’s Allowance calculator on GOV.UK to see how your benefits might change. Or ask your local Citizens Advice office-they can run the numbers for you for free.

Next Steps: What to Do Right Now

If you’re caring for a family member and want to get paid, here’s your simple action plan:

1. Check if the person you care for gets DLA, PIP, or Attendance Allowance. Look at their benefit letters.
2. Apply for Carer’s Allowance at gov.uk/carers-allowance. You can do it online in under 20 minutes.
3. Contact your local council’s Adult Social Care team and ask for a care needs assessment for the person you care for-and mention you’d like to explore Direct Payments.
4. Call Social Security Scotland at 0800 182 2222 to check if you’re eligible for the Carer’s Allowance Supplement or other Scottish top-ups.
5. Book a free session with Citizens Advice to review how this affects your other benefits.

You’re not asking for charity. You’re asking for fair pay for work that keeps people out of care homes and hospitals. And you’re entitled to it.

Final Thought: You’re Not Alone

Over 6 million people in the UK care for a family member. Most do it without pay, without support, and without realizing they’re entitled to help. You’re not failing if you need financial support. You’re not selfish for wanting to be paid. You’re a vital part of the care system-and you deserve to be treated like one.

Start with one step today. Check the benefits the person you care for receives. Fill out the Carer’s Allowance form. Call your council. You don’t need to fix everything at once. Just begin.