Welfare benefits for carers

As a carer, you could be entitled to various means-tested benefits. You can also work and earn up to a set amount and still get Carer's Allowance. Means-tested benefits are paid to people on a low income with limited savings. The benefits system is very complex and entitlement to benefits depends on you meeting certain criteria. Citizens Advice can give you information to help identify which benefits you could claim including a section for carers and sick and disabled people.

For example:

Caitlin claims Carer’s Allowance (non-means-tested) as she cares for her mum; she also gets Universal Credit (means-tested) as she is a carer without any other income. She gets help with her rent through Universal Credit and also qualifies for help with her Council Tax through the local authority.
The best thing to do is get a benefit check done. You can check your benefits entitlement with Citizen Advice or ask at your local advice centre.

Means-tested benefits that are particularly relevant to carers include Pension Credit and Universal Credit.

Some carers may still qualify for Income Support, Housing Benefit and Tax Credits depending on their situation. But in most cases, these benefits have been replaced by Universal Credit.

If you have a child who has a long-term health condition or is disabled they may qualify for Disability Living Allowance.

You may be able to get help with mortgage costs, through Income Support, Pension credit or Universal Credit.

The help with mortgage costs is paid as a loan which is repayable. South Gloucestershire and Bristol City council both have schemes that help people on a low income with their council tax payments.

If the person you care for is not able to work due to sickness they may get Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit. These benefits are for people who can't work due to sickness or disability. Some carers may also qualify if they are unwell themselves.

If you or the person you care for pays rent you may be able to get help with this through Universal Credit or in limited circumstances Housing Benefit. If you have a mortgage you may be able to get help with the mortgage interest payments (in the form of a loan which is repayable) through Pension Credit or Universal Credit (and in limited circumstances through other means-tested benefits).

Before you can get help with mortgage payments there is usually a waiting period of 39 weeks or 9 months for Universal Credit. If you get Pension Credit there is not a waiting period.

Find out more about getting help with mortgage payments on the government website.

The Benefit Cap puts a limit on the amount of benefits that a household can receive.

If anyone in the household gets certain benefits the cap will not be applied. If you get Carer’s Allowance the cap will not be applied and if anyone in the household gets Disability Living Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance (only if the person is in the support group), Personal Independence Payment, or Attendance Allowance the cap will also not apply.

This is not a complete list and you can find out more about the benefit cap on the government website.

The bedroom tax restricts the amount of housing benefit people can get if they live in social housing and are considered to have more bedrooms than the household needs.

From 1st April 2017 new rules mean an additional bedroom will be allowed if:

• a child or non-dependent adult requires overnight care from a non-resident carer(s)
• two members of a couple cannot share a bedroom for ‘transparent medical reasons’
• If you live in private rented housing you will be affected by similar rules that predate the bedroom tax.

There is more information about how the bedroom tax affects carers from Carers UK.

If you get Housing Benefit and it doesn’t cover all your rent (which is often what happens) you may be able to get something called a Discretionary Housing Payment.

This payment is made by the Local Authority and they will assess each application to decide if the payment can be awarded. Discretionary Housing Payments can only be given to people who qualify for at least some housing benefit

If your income drops or circumstances change, this could be a time to apply for one. Further information and an application if you live in Bristol can be found on the Bristol City Council website.

Further information and an application if you live in South Gloucestershire can be found on the South Gloucestershire Council website.

If you give up work to care for someone you are probably not thinking about the effect of this on your state retirement pension, but it may impact on the amount you get.

To qualify for a state pension you need to have enough qualifying years, which means you need to have either paid or been credited with enough National Insurance contributions over the years. Some people who earn too little to pay National Insurance or those who are out of work and not claiming certain benefits may have gaps in their records.

If you reach retirement age after the 6 April 2016 you will get the new state pension and will need 35 qualifying years. If you reached retirement age or deferred your pension you will remain on the old system where you needed 30 years.

Find out more about state pension rules and changes on the  Money Helper website.

Some benefits like Carer’s Allowance pay your National Insurance (NI) credits. This helps protect your NI record for a pension. If you don’t qualify for Carer’s Allowance you may get Carer’s Credit instead, which also helps protect your NI record.

You may be able to pay voluntary contributions to make up gaps in your record but there are special rules for doing this. 

Find out more about making voluntary contributions on the government website.

You can check your NI record on the government website or by contacting the National Insurance Helpline on 0300 200 3500.  

You can ask for a state pension forecast on the government website or by contacting the Future Pension Centre on 0800 7310175. 

You may qualify for Pension Credit which is a means-tested benefit that tops up a low income. Many people miss out on this so it‘s worth checking to see if you qualify. You may also get help with your mortgage interest payments through Pension Credit.

If you pay rent and council tax you could get Housing Benefit or help with council tax. Independent Age has produced a guide to Pension Credit.

You or the person you care for may also qualify for Attendance Allowance. Some people could also claim Carers Allowance but claiming Carers Allowance is more complicated when you get a state retirement pension.

Many people on a means-tested benefit will be entitled to free prescriptions, free dental care, free eye care, wigs and fabric supports and help with travel health care costs. Other people who are on a low income may get help through the NHS Low Income Scheme, whilst others are exempt from paying NHS charges.

Information about ways to get help with health costs on the NHS website