Action for Carers Surrey
Enabling carers to have a voice and realise a life outside caring

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Money Advice

Rights and entitlements

You are entitled to request a Carers Needs Assessment if you provide, or are intending to provide, a substantial amount of care for an adult on a regular basis, or if you care for a disabled child. You can ask to be assessed even if the person you look after does not receive help from social care. An assessment of the person you care for may be carried out at the same time to help identify the services and help you need, and a support plan will be devised.To request a Carers’ Needs Assessment, contact Surrey County Council’s Adult Social Care helpline on 0300 200 1005.

As a carer you may be able to claim several benefits. There are three main types: earnings replacement benefits, paid because you’re not in paid employment, benefits that compensate for extra costs, such as those relating to disability or having a child and benefits and tax credits that top up low income.

You can phone the Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 882200 and ask to be sent a claim pack.

Carers’ allowance

The main benefit for carers is the Carer’s Allowance, which is currently worth £55.55 a week. It is not means-tested or based on national insurance contributions but there are certain criteria you must meet in order to be eligible.

In order to qualify for Carer’s Allowance, you must

  • be aged 16 or over (there is no upper age limit) and caring for a disabled person for 35 hours a week or more
  • not earn more than £100 per week (less certain deductions) or be in full-time education
  • satisfy UK residence and immigration rules.
  • be getting either an Attendance Allowance or the middle or higher rate care component of a Disability Living Allowance.

The person you care for must

Attendance Allowance is a weekly cash payment for disabled people who are aged 65 and over, whileDisability Living Allowance is for disabled people under 65.The person you look after may also be entitled to earnings replacement benefits.

For more information on the Carer’s Allowance and other benefits for carers,or for those you look after,contact your local carers support group (link to page) Citizen’s Advice Bureau, oronline at www.direct.gov.uk

Carers Direct Payment

Carers Direct Payments are one-off cash payments up to the value of £1,000 whichyou can use to buy services for yourself. The amount you are awarded depends on the level of need identified by your Carer’s Assessment.

Help for young adult carers

We know that life can be tough for young people with caring responsibilities. It’s important to access support which could make all the difference to how you feel. At Action for Carers we can give advice to 16-24 year olds on juggling caring with all the other things that are important in your life. If you are aged under 18 then Surrey Young Carers is the place to go – call the team on 01737 248224 or email [email protected].

Once you are eighteen you can claim the same entitlements as other adult carers but it’s easy to miss out on assessments and benefits if you don’t know about them or where to ask. We can point you in the direction of your local carers support services for advice on all entitlements and our Learning and Work service can help 18 – 24 year olds cut through the issues you might be having with college, your job or even how you can kick-start your life when all around you doors seem to be closing. Phone us on 01483 302748 or email [email protected]

Emergency help

Carers naturally worry about what would happen to the person they look after if they became ill or were involved in an accident. Who would know that there was someone who depends on them? An Emergency Card is available to carers which identifies them as a carer and carries the details of the person they look after. It also gives details of two friends or neighbours who may be contacted to step in to help.

There is also a Carer Emergency Registration System operated by Surrey County Council, which registers details of people who would not be able to manage on their own if their Carer became incapacitated, so that the council can provide emergency help.

If you would If you would like to register for a free Carers’ Emergency Card or for the Carer Emergency Registration System, contact Surrey County Council on 03456 009 009.

Telecare

If you are often away from the person you care for, or live elsewhere, you may consider using Telecare, a 24-hour service which helps potentially vulnerable people live more independently in their homes. The telecare unit is linked to a care centre by the telephone line and can be activated by either pressing a button on a pendant, which is worn by the cared-for person, or remotely via another telecare sensor, for example, smoke alarms, fall detectors or pill dispensers. Telecare units can be rented for a few pounds a week. For further information about Telecare, call 0800 1956035, text 07976 843825 or visit www.surreytelecare.com

End of Life

Coping with a bereavement can be particularly difficult for carers. For emotional and practical help,contact your local Carers’ Support service (see page X)In the meantime, for essential information on what to do, follow this link:

http://www.carers.org/help-directory/practical-issues-following-death

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