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Benefits for carers

“I recently gave up my job to look after my wife because she has a disability. My wife gets Disability Living Allowance. Is there any help for me?"

By carers, we mean people who look after a relative or friend who need support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness, including mental illness. There are over 5.7 million people in the UK who care for relatives or loved ones on a regular and unpaid basis who, because of illness or disability are unable to manage on their own without this help.

In Haringey, there are more than 16,000 carers of all ages and from all communities. The support provided by carers ranges from emotional support and companionship through to more physical and practical tasks such as personal care and lifting.

Available from the Disability and Carers Unit

Carer's Allowance

To claim you must be 16 years old or over, and look after someone for at least 35 hours a week. Also, the person being looked after must receive a qualifying disability benefit such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - paid at either the middle or higher rate for personal care, Attendance Allowance (AA) - paid at any rate, or Constant Attendance Allowance.

You are allowed to earn up to £84 a week (net) and still make a claim. Full time students are not able to make a claim. Some benefits (known as overlapping benefits) can prevent you from receiving Carer's Allowance. Some people who receive small State Retirement Pensions can also be topped up with Carer's Allowance.

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Available from your Jobcentre Plus or the Pension Service

Carer Premiums

People receiving or claiming Income Support, Pension Credit (Guarantee element), income-based Jobseeker's Allowance and Housing Benefit could increase the amount of benefit they receive by claiming Carer's Allowance to qualify for a Carer Premium. You can get a Carer Premium if you get Carer's Allowance, or all that stops you getting Carer's Allowance is that you get an overlapping benefit.

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Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP)

HRP is not a benefit but a scheme that helps you protect your Basic State Pension. You may also get extra pension through State Second Pension. If you get Carer's Allowance you will get National Insurance credits and will not usually need HRP.

If you do not work or your earnings are low and you are caring for someone, you may be able to get HRP. If you get Child Benefit in your name for a child under the age of 16, or Income Support and do not need to register for work because you are caring for someone who is sick or disabled, you should get HRP automatically.

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Income Support

You may be able to get either Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance if:

  • you are on a low income
  • your savings are below a set limit
  • you are working fewer than 16 hours a week
  • you are not working.

If you can look for work, you should usually claim Jobseeker’s Allowance. If you are a lone parent with dependent children, are sick or disabled or you are caring for a disabled person, you may be entitled to Income Support. If you are over 60 you may be entitled to Pension Credit.

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Jobseeker's Allowance

As long as you are available for and actively seeking work, you may be able to get Jobseeker's Allowance if you are:

  • on a low income
  • not working (or working fewer than 16 hours per week)
  • not entitled to Income Support.

If your income is not low enough, or your savings are too high, but you have been paying National Insurance contributions in the last two years and are now looking for work, you may also be entitled to contribution-based Jobseeker’s Allowance for a limited period.

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Available from the Inland Revenue

Working Tax Credits and Child Tax Credit

If you or your partner, if you have one, are working but have a low income, you may be able to get Working Tax Credit. For your household to be eligible for tax credits, you and / or your partner must be aged 16 or over and usually live in the United Kingdom. Child Tax Credit can be paid if you are responsible for at least one child, and have gross income up to £59,000 a year.

If you or your partner work 16 hours or more a week, you may be entitled to Working Tax Credit and/or Child Tax Credit.

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Available from Haringey Council

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

If you pay rent for your accommodation you can claim Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. If you receive Income Support or Pension Credit (Guarantee element) you will normally receive 100% of your rent and Council Tax. Homeowners can claim Council Tax Benefit if they have a low income and modest savings. If you live alone or have a long-term illness or disability you may qualify for a Council Tax reduction even if you don’t qualify for Council Tax Benefit.

For information about Housing and Council Tax Benefits, write to:

Haringey Council
PO Box 10505
Wood Green
N22 7WJ
Tel 020 8489 2800

The following links are not part of the Haringey Council website. Please read our legal disclaimer before using these links

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Page Last Updated: 7 July 2008

This page belongs to the following categories :
- Health and social care > Social services

 
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