There is financial support available for carers. To help support you in your caring role and to take care of you. Make sure that you are claiming all of the benefits that you are able to. Independent benefits advice is available.
Carer’s Allowance is a benefit from the government for people over 16 who spend at least 35 hours a week looking after someone who needs significant care and support. The person you care for needs to be claiming certain benefits such as Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Constant Attendance Allowance
Receiving Carer’s Allowance can effect the other benefits you receive, such as State Pension. It may change the amount of benefits the person you care for receives. Get advice before claiming Carer’s Allowance.
Read more about Carer’s Allowance on InformationNOW
You can speak with someone about the benefits you may be able to claim. A local independent advice service can help guide you through the process such as:
Newcastle Welfare Rights Service gives benefits advice and have useful benefits information on their website
Newcastle City Council Housing gives council tenants benefits and debt advice.
Citizens Advice Newcastle (CAN) give free, confidential and independent advice to people who live, work or study in Newcastle.
Search Newcastle gives benefits advice to older people in the West of Newcastle
Read more on where to get benefits advice services in Newcastle.
The Carers Wellbeing Fund will open for new applications in November 2024.
The Carers Wellbeing Fund provides small grants for carers to help you improve your health and wellbeing. It can be used to pay for things such as:
Speak to Newcastle Carers for more information
A Carer's Assessment is a conversation with Adult Social Care about your caring role. It gives you the chance to tell us about your caring role and the impact caring is having on you. It focuses on your needs and covers your:
Talk to Adult Social CarePoint to find out more about the practical and financial support that may be available to help you in your caring role.
Personal budgets are available to people who are eligible for Adult Social Care support. Your personal budget is an agreed amount of money that can be used to meet your social care needs. The amount of money you get is decided after you have a needs assessment and a financial assessment. It is agreed annually.
You can receive your Personal Budget as a direct payment, or you can ask the Council to arrange support on your behalf.
Talk to Adult Social CarePoint to find out if you can get funded support.
Direct payments are where the council pays your personal budget directly in a bank account for you. You can use this money to buy the support you need in the way that you prefer.
Talk to Adult Social CarePoint for more information.
After you have spoken to Adult Social Care and chosen to have a Carer's Assessment you may be offered support to take a break. This could be replacement care, respite, temporary replacement care or a carer's break.