Are You Eligible for the National Carers Card?

Are you thinking of applying for the National Carers Card, but not sure if you're eligible because you don't receive Carer's Allowance - or because you aren't employed as a carer? Scroll down to discover who is eligible and to debunk some key myths about eligibility.

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What is a carer?

The key point is that eligibility is based on what you do, not on a label, a benefit or a piece of paper. You are eligible for the National Carers Card if you look after someone who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, mental health condition or addiction, and who could not cope without your support.

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That support can take many forms, not just personal care such as washing or dressing. If you help with medication, cooking, shopping, managing appointments and paperwork, or providing emotional support, you are providing care and you are eligible.

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Who is eligible?

Carers come from every walk of life, and the National Carers Card is open to anyone, of any age, who provides care anywhere in the UK. You may be eligible if you are:

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Family carers

Many carers are family members looking after a partner, parent, child, sibling or grandparent. You may not think of yourself as a “carer” at all, just as a husband, daughter or mum doing what needs to be done. If the person you look after relies on your support, you are eligible.

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Parents of a disabled child

Parents and guardians of children, including adult children, with a disability or long-term health condition provide care over and above ordinary parenting.

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Young carers

There is no minimum age for the National Carers Card. Children and young people who help look after a parent, sibling or other relative are carers too, and are just as eligible as adults.

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Friends, neighbours or volunteer carers

You do not have to be related to the person you care for. Friends, neighbours and volunteers who regularly support someone who could not manage without them are all eligible.

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Professional care workers

The National Carers Card is also open to professional carers. If youwork as a care worker, support worker or personal assistant and provide care anywhere in the UK, you are eligible, whether you’re self-employed, employed in a care home or working for an agency.

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Part-time or long-distance carers

You do not need to live with the person you care for, or to care around the clock or full time. Many carers juggle caring with work, study and other responsibilities. What matters is that the person you look after needs your help. In order to be eligible for the National Carers Card, you must spend at least 3 hours per week on your caring role.

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Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment

If you receive Carer’s Allowance, Carer Support Payment or the carer element of Universal Credit, you are likely to be eligible. But receiving a benefit is not a requirement. Many carers do not claim, or are not entitled to claim, any carer’s benefit at all, and you do not need to receive or be eligible for a carer benefit in order to apply for the National Carers Card.

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Unpaid carers in Merton

If you care for someone living within the London borough of Merton, you may be eligible for a free National Carers Card thanks to our partnership with your local council. Learn more about the Merton National Carers Card.

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Carers of National Disability Card holders

If you care for someone who already has a National Disability Card, or who wishes to apply, you are eligible for 25% off the cost of your National Carers Card. The person you care for will receive an email after applying for the National Disability Card, which contains your 25% off discount code.

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💡 Please note that the examples in this article are not exhaustive. You may still be eligible if your caring situation is not described here but you look after someone who cannot cope without your support.

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What evidence do I need to apply?

During your application, you must certify that you look after someone who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, mental health condition or addiction, and that they cannot cope without your support.

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To complete your application you will also need:

• To certify during the application that you look after someone who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, mental health condition or addiction, and that they cannot cope without your support.
• A passport-style photo ofyourself
• A UK address for your card to be posted to

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About the National Carers Card

The National Carers Card, set up by carers in 2019, is a form of visual identification for carers across the UK. Designed to support and acknowledge the invaluable role of professional and unpaid carers, the card also helps with accessing discounts and other benefits that make daily life a little easier.