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Money and legal

Advice on the financial benefits for carers and the person being cared for, plus legal guidance on loss of mental capacity

Carers' benefits

As a carer you may be able to claim several benefits, and receiving one can mean you qualify for others. Follow our guides to the main types of benefit you can claim.

Benefits for the person you
care for

The person you're looking after may be entitled to benefits because of their condition. Find out more in this section.

Other benefits

You and the person you care for could be entitled to many benefits that aren't directly connected to your caring role. These include benefits that can top up your income.

Tax credits

If you have don't have much money and have children or are in paid employment, you may be entitled to tax credits to boost your income.

Social Fund

The Social Fund may be able to help you if you need help with costs that you can't meet through benefit payments, such as when you are pregnant, moving home or someone dies.

Death and benefits

When the person you care for dies, their benefits will stop and your own benefits could be affected. Find out about what changes you may face, and new benefits you may wish to claim.

Legal affairs

If the person you care for loses their mental capacity, you may need to manage their legal affairs for them. Some advance planning can make this easier.

Household finance

Carers and the people they look after may be entitled to help with household finances, including discounts and exemptions from Council Tax and utility bills.

Last reviewed: 14/01/2010

Next review due: 14/01/2012

Call Carers Direct on 0808 802 0202

Or email CarersDirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk.

Free, confidential information and advice for carers.

Lines are open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines.

More about the Carers Direct helpline.

Services near you

Find addresses, phone numbers and websites for services for carers near you.

Also in Carers Direct

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The carers blog is written by carers or those working to support carers of adults and children with long-term conditions such as dementia, stroke, mental illness and physical disabilities. To join the bloggers, email talk@nhschoices.nhs.uk.

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