Caring for someone can lead to money worries, especially if your caring role means you have to give up work. But there may be financial support available to help you and put your mind at ease.
Can I get help from my local council?
You’re entitled to a free carer’s assessment from your local council. Following the assessment, the council then decides whether you’re eligible for help. They may decide that you’re eligible for a carer’s personal budget to help you with your caring role.
To get started, ask your local council for a carer’s assessment.
Find out more about the carer’s assessment
Find your local council
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Am I entitled to any benefits?
Carer’s Allowance is the main welfare benefit to help carers, worth £69.70 per week (this figure is usually reviewed each April). To be eligible for Carer’s Allowance, you must:
- spend at least 35 hours per week caring for someone, whether or not you live with them
- care for someone who receives certain benefits
- not be in full-time education or earning more than £132 a week (after tax and expenses)
Find out more about Carer’s Allowance
Can I protect my State Pension?
If you give up work to care for someone, you might be worried that not paying National Insurance (NI) will lower your State Pension. But if you care for someone for at least 20 hours per week, you could get Carer’s Credit, which helps to maintain your NI record.
If you get Carer’s Allowance, you’ll get Carer’s Credit automatically, but you don’t have to be receiving Carer’s Allowance to get it.