PETITIONOpenPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Allow full-time students who provide 35+ hours care to receive Carer’s Allowance
Amend the eligibility rules for Carer’s Allowance so that people in full-time education who provide at least 35 hours of care per week can receive Carer’s Allowance, provided all other conditions are met.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
29
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 29/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 29/100,000
Background
Many students provide 35 hours or more of unpaid care each week for disabled parents or relatives but are excluded from Carer’s Allowance solely because they are in full-time education. This forces carers to choose between education and financial support, even though the care must still be provided. The rule is outdated and unfairly treats student carers differently from others providing the same level of care. Eligibility should be based on hours of care, not education status.