Where to Find Funding if You're a Carer

If you are a full-time carer you may be entitled to Carer's Allowance to help you. Being a full-time carer requires a lot of your time, and in many cases people have to give up their main source of income. However, if you spend a minimum of 35 hours a week looking after a disabled person who is aged 16 or over.

You aren't entitled to Carer's Allowance if you are a full-time student with more than 21 hours spent under supervised study, or if you earn more than £204 after tax each week.

Carer's Allowance pays a maximum of £86.45 per week, an amount which is reduced depending on which other benefits you are receiving, such as state pensions.

When it comes to claiming for Carer's Allowance, the process is very simple. You can either request a claim form over the telephone by contacting your local benefits office. It is important, however, that once you have claimed you inform them of any changes to the circumstances of yourself or the person you are caring for.

According to the guidelines, the 'caring week' runs from Sunday to Saturday. This means that if you are a weekend carer, you could still be eligible to receive the allowance - provided you care for 35 hours or more.

Perfect Timing

If you are caring for someone who has recently been certain benefits, then you should apply for the Carer's Allowance straight away. These benefits include:

• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment (daily living component)
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• War Disablement Pension

It is important that you claim as soon as possible because the benefit cannot be back-dated.

There are things that, as a carer, you will need to pay for, but it is important to bear in mind that when your needs are assessed, the amount you are awarded does not depend on the amount you can afford to pay.

When you are assessed, your needs will be looked at before the social services assess you affordability. The assessment of your finances will provide the council with the level at which you can support yourself and the person you are caring for.

As a carer, you will need to pay for things like home help, meals and any sitting services that are required and it is things like this that aren't included in what the Carer's Allowance covers. You can't however, be charged for things like help and advice, equipment from a therapist or transport to get to and from day centres.

The charges you do incur are based on the government's fairer charging policies, which basically outlines the things that you, as a carer, can and can't be charged for. It says that you can't be charged for services if it will result in you being left with less that the basic income support levels.

Grant Eligibility Finder

Tell us what you need funding for and we will match you with the types of UK grant most likely to accept your application.

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And Finally…

As a carer, you may be entitled to a reduction in council tax. This applies to those carers who live with the person they provide care for. To find out if you are eligible for a discount on your council tax bill, then you should get in touch with your local authority.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Grant Eligibility Finder lets you tell us what you need funding for and we will match you with the types of UK grant most likely to accept your application. Try it now →