Benefits for carers

The carer benefits system is complex

In the run up to publication of my new book Carers and Caring; the One Stop Guide; how to care for older relatives and friends I am sharing an A to Z of some of the practical solutions learned from research and experience. If you think any problems have been missed you can email me and tell me, and I’ll make sure they are covered in the next edition and online on my website at www.juneandrews.net.  Today we’re looking at B for Benefits. I am so sorry I cannot make it any simpler. If you need a pal to talk you through this, remember that Age UK, Citizens Advice and other organisations offer face-to-face support.

The main discussion of benefits is in Chapter Three of the upcoming book, but everyone knows the limits of a book for this purpose. You need up-to-date advice from a current benefits calculator on a website. You should treat even those results as only a helpful estimate to start to figure out what you could be claiming. A calculator cannot guarantee your eligibility for any benefit or tax credits, so contact the relevant department to confirm your entitlement. To use the benefit calculator online form you need to have some information to hand, including details of income and savings, investments and other capital, Council Tax bill, rent or mortgage repayments and details of any benefits you already claim. 

 Online calculators help you find entitlements

Calculators can be found at: 

·      Turn2Us – for information on income-related benefits, tax credits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit and how your benefits will be affected if you start work or change your working hours. benefits-calculator-2.turn2us.org.uk

·      Policy in Practice − for information on income-related benefits, tax credits, contribution-based benefits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit, how these are calculated and how your benefits will be affected if you start work or change your working hours. www.betteroffcalculator.co.uk

·      Entitledto − for information on income-related benefits, tax credits, contribution-based benefits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit and how your benefits will be affected if you start work. www.entitledto.co.uk

·      Age UK – provides either an estimate or an indication of possible eligibility for a range of benefits. benefitscheck.ageuk.org.uk/Home/Start

·      Carers Trust − should link with Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, Child Benefit, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit. carers.org/money-and-benefits/benefits-calculator

 Get help from a local carers’ organisation

Other websites can give you up-to-date information on issues such as Carer’s Allowance, DLA (Disability Living Allowance), PIP (Personal Independence Payments), Bedroom Tax, benefit caps etc. Most usefully, Carers UK has advice on challenging a benefit decision. 

There are local carer organisations throughout the UK that can help. 

There is much more about BENEFITS in  Carers and Caring: The One-Stop Guide: How to care for older relatives and friends - with tips for managing finances and accessing the right support  available from all good bookshops in May 2022

Three hints:

1.     The website is your friend

2.     Chapter Three of the book should help

3.     Organisations like Age UK, Carers UK and Citizens Advice are great