DWP: Thousands of people missing out on £3,600 yearly payment - plus Christmas bonus

Thousands of people in the UK could be eligible for a payment worth more than £3,600 from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Carer's Allowance is the main benefit for carers, currently paid at £69.70 a week (£3,624 per year).

You may be eligible if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and earn £132 or less a week after tax, the DWP explains.

You also need to be aged 16 or over and not be in full-time education.

In order to get the benefit, the person you care for must receive a qualifying disability benefit, such as:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Disability Living Allowance
• Attendance Allowance
• Disablement Benefit Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Child/Adult Disability Payment.

Carer's Allowance is the main benefit for carers (In Pictures via Getty Images)

The government adds you do not have to be related to or live with the person you care for - and you do not get paid extra if you care for more than one person.

The benefit also includes a one-off tax-free £10 Christmas Bonus, which is usually paid in the first week of December.

You can apply for Carer's Allowance on the government website or by post - and you can backdate your claim by up to three months.

You may be eligible if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week (Stock photo) (Getty Images)

To apply, you will need the following details:

• National Insurance number (if you have a partner you'll need theirs too)
• Bank or building society details (unless you get your State Pension)
• Employment details and latest payslip if you're working
• P45 if you've recently finished work
• Course details if you're studying
• Details of any expenses, for example pension contributions or the cost of caring for your children or the disabled person while you’re at work

You will also need details of the person you care for, including their:

• Date of birth and address
• National Insurance number if they're 16 or over
• Disability Living Allowance reference if they're under 16

An estimated 500,000 people are said to be missing out on the benefit, according to the Express.

Last month, the DWP confirmed that around six million people on some disability benefits would get a £150 Cost of Living payment.

Though not everyone is eligible for the payment, you may get the lump sum payment if you get one of the following benefits:

• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance for adults
• Disability Living Allowance for children
• Personal Independence Payment
• Adult Disability Payment
• Child Disability Payment
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• War Pension Mobility Supplement