Weekly Earnings Check
Enter your pay details for one week. We'll calculate whether you're safely under the £204 Carer's Allowance earnings limit.
If paid monthly, we'll divide by the correct number of weeks
Your total pay before tax, NI etc. for this pay period
Your total pension contribution (we deduct 50%)
Paid to a non-relative to look after the person you care for, or a child. Max 50% of net pay deductible.
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Weekly Earnings Log
Save every check to build a colour‑coded proof‑protection record. Export as CSV for your benefits adviser. Available in the full version.
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“What If?” Simulator
Test a pay rise, overtime, or extra hours before you commit. See exactly what it would do to your threshold — including the maximum safe pay rise. Available in the full version.
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How This Tool Works
Understanding the Carer's Allowance earnings threshold for 2026/27
🚨 The Cliff Edge Rule
If your weekly earnings (after allowable deductions) exceed £204.00, you lose your entire Carer's Allowance of £86.45 for that week. Not just the excess — all of it. There is no taper, no graduated reduction. One penny over = full loss.
What the Calculator Does
It takes your gross pay and subtracts the allowable deductions that the DWP recognises, then divides by the correct number of weeks for your pay frequency. The result is your "net weekly earnings" as the DWP would calculate them.
Allowable Deductions
✓ Income Tax — deducted in full
✓ National Insurance — deducted in full
✓ Pension contributions — 50% of your contribution is deductible
✓ Care costs while working — if you pay a non-relative to look after the person you care for (or a child under 16) while you work, up to 50% of your net pay is deductible
✓ National Insurance — deducted in full
✓ Pension contributions — 50% of your contribution is deductible
✓ Care costs while working — if you pay a non-relative to look after the person you care for (or a child under 16) while you work, up to 50% of your net pay is deductible
What Doesn't Count as Earnings
State Pension, occupational/personal pension income, savings interest, benefits (AA, PIP, UC etc.), and one-off payments like redundancy pay do not count towards the £204 limit.
Fluctuating Earnings
If your earnings vary from week to week, the DWP may agree to average them over a "recognisable cycle of work" or over 5 weeks. This is discretionary — contact the Carer's Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297 to discuss your specific situation.
💡 Pro Tip: Track Every Week
Use the Calculator tab every time you get paid, then save the result to your Weekly Log. This creates a permanent record that proves you were actively monitoring your earnings. If the DWP ever raises a query, this evidence is invaluable.
Key Rates for 2026/27 (from April 2026)
Carer's Allowance: £86.45 per week
Earnings limit: £204.00 per week (after deductions)
Minimum care hours: 35 hours per week
Carer's Allowance Unit: 0800 731 0297
Earnings limit: £204.00 per week (after deductions)
Minimum care hours: 35 hours per week
Carer's Allowance Unit: 0800 731 0297
Danger Zone Warnings
SAFE (under £184) — Comfortable headroom. Keep monitoring monthly.
WARNING (£184–£204) — Within £20 of the limit. Any overtime, pay rise, or bonus could push you over. Monitor weekly. Consider speaking to your employer about capping hours.
OVER LIMIT (above £204) — You are over the cliff edge for this week. You have lost Carer's Allowance for this week. Report to the Carer's Allowance Unit immediately on 0800 731 0297 to prevent further overpayments building up.
WARNING (£184–£204) — Within £20 of the limit. Any overtime, pay rise, or bonus could push you over. Monitor weekly. Consider speaking to your employer about capping hours.
OVER LIMIT (above £204) — You are over the cliff edge for this week. You have lost Carer's Allowance for this week. Report to the Carer's Allowance Unit immediately on 0800 731 0297 to prevent further overpayments building up.