FAQ

The main benefit for carers is called the Carer's Allowance and it's worth £62.10 per week if you're eligible.

You don't have to be related to or live with the person you care for to claim Carer's Allowance.

You'll also get National Insurance credits each week towards your pension if you're under pension age. Don't assume you're not a carer.

You may not think of yourself as a carer. Perhaps you've looked after someone for a long time without ever calling yourself one, or maybe you think the help you give your spouse or parent is simply what you should be doing. If so, you may have been missing out on the help that is available to you.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is for people who have an illness, health condition or disability that makes it difficult or impossible to work.

If the Department of Work and Pensions have decided you're not fit for work (i.e. you have limited capability for work), you will be put into either the "Support group" or the "work-related activity group".

You'll get up to £109.30 a week. You'll be in this group if the DWP decide that you're not well enough to work and not well enough to be helped to improve your chance of getting work in the future.

You'll get up to £102.15 a week. You'll be in this group if the DWP decide that you're not well enough to work but are well enough to be helped to improve your chances of getting work in the future.

Once you're assessed, the extra money you get should be backdated to the 14th week of your claim.

If you were getting a premium during the assessment phase as a carer or someone with a severe disability, this will continue.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for people aged between 16 and 64 who because of a long-term illness or disability may need help with daily activities or getting around.

Personal Budget is an agreed amount of money that is allocated to you personally by your local council (and other funding streams e.g. healthcare) following an assessment of your care and support needs. This is for support to meet your needs that you decide and control. In other words, you control the money for you care and support.

A personal budget can give you more choice, flexibility and control about the way support is provided A personal budget can only be spent on meeting social care needs as agreed in your support plan. It is not an additional welfare benefit. You can spend your personal budget in a way which meets your support needs and agreed outcomes. This will be decided through the development of your support plan in partnership with your care manager.

The Care Act 2014, which came into effect from 1st April 2015, represents the most significant reform of care and support in more than 60 years, putting people and their carers in control of their care and support.

Importantly the Care Act changes many aspects of how support is arranged and aims to give greater control and influence to those in need of support. You can find out more information and a helpful film about the Care Act here: http://www.scie.org.uk/care-act-2014/video.asp

A carer's assessment is for adult carers of adults (over 18years) who are disabled, ill or elderly. It is an opportunity to discuss with the local council what support or services you need. The assessment will look at how caring affects your life, including for example physical, mental and emotional needs and whether you are able or willing to carry on caring.

If you and the person you care for agree, a combined assessment of both your needs can be carried out at the same time.

As a carer you should be offered an assessment by the local council, social services department. If you have not been offered one, you should contact them by phone, in writing or online and ask for a carer’s assessment or for a review of your support plan (if it has been a year since your last one, or less than a year but your circumstances have changed. If you want to, you can ask for an assessment before you take up your caring role.

Under the Care Act 2014 local councils have a duty to carry out a social care assessment for anyone with needs. If you live in Harrow, you can get ask for an assessment by phoning Access Harrow on 020 8901 2680 or emailing AHadults@harrow.gov.uk

If you live in Brent, you can get an assessment by contacting Brent Social Services, you can reach them on 020 8937 4300 emailing customer.services@brent.gov.uk

If you live in Hillingdon, you can ask for an assessment by phoning 01895 556633 or emailing socialcaredirect@hillingdon.gov.uk

You can also complete a self-assessment on the council’s website on: https://www.hillingdon.gov.uk/article/4555/Apply-for-care-and-support