What happens to Carer's Allowance when the person you care for dies

Last updated 13 July 2026

Reviewed by the After Loss Guide editorial team · updated 13 July 2026

Researched from primary sources. See our editorial policy.

When the person you cared for dies, Carer’s Allowance does not stop straight away. It carries on for up to 8 weeks after their death, as long as you still meet the other conditions. This “run-on” is unusual: most benefits, including Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance, stop on the date of death with no grace period. Carer’s Allowance is one of the few that keeps paying for a set time afterwards, to give you a little breathing space at the point your caring role ends.

This guide explains exactly how the 8-week run-on works and when it ends, whether you have to do anything to trigger it, how to report the death to the DWP, what happens to the carer element of Universal Credit or Pension Credit, and what you may be able to claim once the run-on finishes.

The short answer

The run-on exists because your entitlement to Carer’s Allowance was built on the caring role you had, and losing the person you cared for changes your whole financial situation overnight. The 8 weeks give you time to sort out benefits and, if you need to, look for work without an immediate drop in income.

How the 8-week run-on works

Carer’s Allowance continues for up to 8 weeks from the death of the person you were caring for, as long as you keep meeting the other conditions of entitlement. The rule comes from the Regulatory Reform (Carer’s Allowance) Order 2002 and has applied to deaths since 28 October 2002. (Source: DWP Decision Makers Guide, Chapter 60, para 60062)

The 8 weeks are counted precisely. Entitlement ends on whichever of these comes first:

End point What it means
The expiry of 8 weeks The 8-week period begins with the Sunday following the death – or the date of death itself if the person died on a Sunday
The end of the week you stop meeting another condition If you stop satisfying any other requirement for Carer's Allowance during the run-on – for example your earnings rise above the limit – payment ends at the end of that week instead

Rule and dates verified July 2026 from the DWP Decision Makers Guide, Chapter 60.

During the run-on you no longer have to be providing 35 hours of care a week, for the obvious reason that the person you cared for has died. The other conditions still apply, though. In particular, the earnings limit still counts: for 2026/27 you can earn up to £204 a week (after tax, National Insurance and allowable expenses) and keep Carer’s Allowance. If you go back to work during the run-on and your earnings go above that limit, the run-on ends at the end of that week. (Source: gov.uk – Carer’s Allowance: eligibility)

The payment stays at the normal weekly rate of £86.45 throughout the run-on. (Source: gov.uk – Carer’s Allowance)

Do I need to do anything to get the run-on?

No. The run-on happens automatically once the DWP knows the person you cared for has died. You do not fill in a separate form or make a claim for it. What you do have to do is report the death so the DWP can start the run-on and then close the claim at the right time. If you do not report it, the department cannot manage the run-on correctly, and you risk being paid too much and having to repay it later.

How to report the death to the DWP

You must tell the DWP that the person you were caring for has died, but you cannot use the ordinary online “report a change” service to do it. The gov.uk service says plainly: “You cannot use this service to report the death of someone you’re caring for. You should use the Tell Us Once service instead.” (Source: gov.uk – Carer’s Allowance: report changes)

There are two ways to report it:

  1. Tell Us Once. When you register the death, the registrar gives you a Tell Us Once reference. The free Tell Us Once service reports the death to the DWP and other government departments in one step, so you do not have to contact Carer’s Allowance separately. This is the route gov.uk points you to.

  2. The DWP Bereavement Service. If Tell Us Once is not available where you live (for example in Northern Ireland), call the DWP Bereavement Service on 0800 151 2012, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. The Welsh-language line is 0800 731 0453, and there is a Relay UK option on 18001 then 0800 151 2012 for anyone with hearing or speech difficulties. (Source: gov.uk – report a death without Tell Us Once)

Have the person’s National Insurance number, their date of death, and the death certificate details ready when you report it. Reporting promptly matters: it lets the DWP set up the run-on correctly and close the claim cleanly at the end of the 8 weeks, so you are not left with an overpayment to sort out.

If you were an appointee

If you managed the person’s own benefits as their appointee – separately from your Carer’s Allowance – that appointeeship ends when they die. Report the death in the same way, and stop using any of their benefit payments from the date of death. Your own Carer’s Allowance run-on is unaffected by the appointeeship ending.

What happens to the carer element of Universal Credit or Pension Credit

Many carers get more than Carer’s Allowance. If you claim Universal Credit, having caring responsibilities usually adds a carer element to your award; Pension Credit has a similar carer addition. These have their own run-on when the person you cared for dies, separate from the 8 weeks of Carer’s Allowance.

For Universal Credit, the carer element carries on until the end of the second assessment period after the assessment period in which the death happened. In practice that means the death’s own monthly assessment period plus two more, so the extra money does not disappear the moment the person dies. (Source: DWP Advice for Decision Making, Chapter F6, para F6041)

If the person you cared for was your husband, wife, civil partner or partner and you were claiming means-tested benefits as a couple, that couple claim ends on their death. You may then need to make a fresh single claim – for Universal Credit if you are under State Pension age, or Pension Credit if you are over it. The carer element or addition can still be included in the new claim while the run-on period lasts. (Source: DWP Advice for Decision Making, Chapter F6, para F6041)

Because these run-ons interact and the rules are detailed, it is worth getting a free benefits check rather than guessing. A local advice service can work out what you should be getting during and after the run-on. See our guide to what happens to Universal Credit when someone dies for more on how a couple claim changes into a single claim.

What to do when the run-on ends

Carer’s Allowance stops at the end of the 8 weeks. It does not roll into anything else automatically, so it is worth knowing your options before the payments end.

  • If you have started caring for someone else – for example another relative who gets a qualifying disability benefit – you can make a new claim for Carer’s Allowance for them, provided you meet the 35-hours-a-week and earnings conditions. (Source: gov.uk – Carer’s Allowance: eligibility)
  • If you are going back to work or looking for work and you are under State Pension age, you may be able to claim Universal Credit to top up a low income during the transition. See what happens to Universal Credit when someone dies.
  • If you are over State Pension age, check whether you now qualify for Pension Credit as a single person, which can be worth claiming in its own right and can passport you to other help.
  • If the person who died was your spouse or civil partner, you may separately qualify for Bereavement Support Payment – a benefit for a bereaved husband, wife or civil partner that has nothing to do with the caring role. Most people on Carer’s Allowance are caring for someone other than a partner, such as a parent or a disabled adult child, in which case Bereavement Support Payment does not apply. It is worth checking whether it fits your situation.

There is no obligation to claim anything new. But the end of caring often means a real drop in household income, so a benefits check at the point the run-on ends can make sure you are not missing support you are entitled to.

Common questions

How long does Carer’s Allowance continue after the person I care for dies?

For up to 8 weeks. The 8 weeks begin on the Sunday after the death – or the date of death if that was a Sunday – and payment ends when those 8 weeks expire, or earlier if you stop meeting another condition such as the earnings limit. (Source: DWP Decision Makers Guide, Chapter 60, para 60062)

Is the Carer’s Allowance run-on automatic, or do I have to apply?

It is automatic. You do not apply for the run-on separately. You do have to report the death to the DWP so it can be set up correctly and closed at the right time – use Tell Us Once or the DWP Bereavement Service on 0800 151 2012.

Do I still have to care for someone during the 8-week run-on?

No. The 35-hours-a-week caring condition no longer applies once the person has died – that is the whole point of the run-on. The other conditions do still apply, though, including the £204-a-week earnings limit. If your earnings go above the limit during the run-on, it ends at the end of that week. (Source: gov.uk – Carer’s Allowance: eligibility)

How do I report the death of the person I was caring for?

Use the free Tell Us Once service when you register the death, or call the DWP Bereavement Service on 0800 151 2012 (Welsh-language line 0800 731 0453), Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. You cannot report it through the ordinary online Carer’s Allowance change-of-circumstances service. (Source: gov.uk – Carer’s Allowance: report changes)

What happens to my Universal Credit carer element when the person dies?

The carer element carries on until the end of the second assessment period after the one in which the death happened – broadly the death’s own monthly period plus two more – rather than stopping immediately. If a couple claim ends because your partner died, the carer element can be included in your new single claim during that run-on. (Source: DWP Advice for Decision Making, Chapter F6, para F6041)

Can I claim Carer’s Allowance again for someone else?

Yes. Once you take on regular care of another person who receives a qualifying disability benefit, you can make a new claim for Carer’s Allowance for them, as long as you provide at least 35 hours of care a week and stay within the earnings limit. (Source: gov.uk – Carer’s Allowance: eligibility)

Summary

  • Carer’s Allowance runs on for up to 8 weeks after the person you cared for dies – one of the few benefits that keeps paying after a death rather than stopping on the date of death.
  • The 8 weeks run from the Sunday after the death (or the date of death if that was a Sunday), and payment ends earlier if you stop meeting another condition such as the earnings limit.
  • The run-on is automatic, but you must still report the death – through Tell Us Once or the DWP Bereavement Service on 0800 151 2012.
  • The carer element of Universal Credit or Pension Credit runs on too, on its own timescale.
  • When the run-on ends, check whether you now qualify for Universal Credit, Pension Credit, a new Carer’s Allowance claim for someone else, or Bereavement Support Payment if the person who died was your spouse or civil partner.

If you are not sure what you should be getting during or after the run-on, get free, independent advice from Citizens Advice or Carers UK. For an overview of all the financial support available after a death, see our bereavement benefits hub.

Rules and rates verified July 2026 from gov.uk – Carer’s Allowance, the DWP Decision Makers Guide, Chapter 60, and the DWP Advice for Decision Making, Chapter F6.

Sources