Financial support for those with caring responsibilities

Are you caring for someone with a disability or a grandchild? Workingwise.co.uk has information on what you can claim, and the financial help available for carers.

Carer’s Allowance

If you are caring for someone with a disability for at least 35 hours a week [you don’t have to be related or live with them], you can get financial support in the form of the Carer’s Allowance if the person you are caring for is in receipt of certain benefits, such as Disability Living Allowance, which may need to be paid at a certain rate.

• The Allowance is currently £66.15 a week
• You must not earn more than £123 a week
• Receipt of Carer’s Allowance will count towards entitlement for means-tested benefits
• You will also get a Carer’s Premium/ Additional amount included in your means-tested benefits
• You will not be eligible if you are in full-time education

Carer’s Allowance will be paid directly into your Bank, Building Society or Post Office account or by Simple Payment if you are unable to open or manage one of these or a similar account.

For more information, click here.

Grandparent support

Grandparents caring for grandchildren under 12 may qualify for Class 3 National Insurance credits that can top up their income in retirement.

Under the Specified Adult Childcare scheme, a parent who goes back to work after the birth of their child can sign a form to allow a grandparent or other family member to receive national insurance credits.

The credits go straight into the grandparent’s state pension. Credits can be awarded retrospectively. More information, click here.

Pension credit

Another financial support open to pensioners on lower incomes is the Pension Credit.

Pension Credit has two parts;

1. Guarantee Pension Credit
2. Savings Pension Credit, which rewards those who have saved and is only available to those who reached the age of 65 before April 2016.

You may be able to get one or both parts depending on your circumstances. More information, click here.

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