Income support is available, subject to normal means-testing rules, to people who regularly and substantially care for a family member or any other person.
In order to be eligible for income support, the carer must either be receiving carer's allowance or be providing regular and substantial care to a person who receives, or is awaiting a decision on a claim for, attendance allowance or one of the two higher care components of disability living allowance.
In addition, income support is available to people who are looking after a member of the family who is temporarily ill and to people who are temporarily looking after a child out of necessity because that child's parent or guardian is either ill or absent from home.