Please see below information on a range of financial advice and support available for carers. You can also see our web pages advice about benefits for carers and advice about managing energy costs.
As a carer you may be entitled to some of the benefits listed below.
Also see our page about other financial support you may also be able to access as a carer and our advice about managing energy costs.
Carer’s Allowance
Carer’s Allowance is paid to help you look after someone with substantial care needs. You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person your care for. You must be:
- 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for them.
- Not be in full time education or studying for 21 hours a week or more.
- Earn no more than a specified amount a week (after taxes, care costs while you’re at work and 50% of what you pay into your pension).
Carer’s Allowance is taxable. It can also affect your other benefits and/or you may also be able to claim other benefits. You cannot normally get two income-replacement benefits (e.g. Carer’s Allowance and the state pension) paid together.
Usually, for each week you get Carer’s Allowance or the underlying entitlement you also get national insurance credits and contributions to your additional state pension. You should still apply for Carer’s Allowance even if you get these as your benefits might be increased.
Cold weather payments
If you’re receiving certain benefits you may be able to get a cold weather payment for each week that the average temperature in your local area is at or below freezing
Council tax discounts
People who live alone qualify for a 25% council tax discount. If there is no-one in the property, the discount will be 50%. Certain people, including some carers and people with a severe mental impairment, are not counted when the council works out how many people live in a property.
Council tax reduction
Each council has its own rules for council tax reduction, which helps people on low incomes pay their council tax. To apply contact your local council benefits department.
Disability reduction scheme
You may be able to pay less council tax under the disability reduction scheme, if your home has had work carried out on it to help you or someone else living there with a disability.
Warm home discounts
The warm home discount scheme means you could get a discount on your electricity bill if you meet certain criteria.
Winter fuel payments
If you have reached the qualifying age and are receiving certain benefits you may be entitled to a winter fuel payment, to help pay winter bills. Find out more at gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment
Other information
See Carers Trust money and benefits.
Help for households campaign
The government has produced information to help you see what cost of living support you could be eligible for. This is at helpforhouseholds.campaign.gov.uk/
The advice includes help with:
- Your energy bills – campaign.gov.uk/help-with-your-bills/
- Income support – campaign.gov.uk/income-support/
- Family and childcare costs campaign.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/
- Housing costs campaign.gov.uk/housing-support/
- Transport costs – campaign.gov.uk/help-with-transport-costs/
- Discounts and offers – campaign.gov.uk/discounts-and-offers/
National Energy Action
National Energy Action are working against fuel poverty, to ensure that everyone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is warm and safe at home.
NEA’s WASH Advice Service is a free support service providing advice to householders in England and Wales on their energy bills and keeping warm and safe in their home. We can also help with benefits advice and income maximisation. See www.nea.org.uk/get-help/wash-advice/
The Government has announced a series of one-off measures to help households with the high cost of energy this winter. These are:
- Low-income Cost of Living Payment
- Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
- Disability payment
See more on these at www.nea.org.uk/get-help/cost-of-living-support/ Advice on what to do if you are struggling with your fuel bills can be found at www.nea.org.uk/get-help/key-things-to-do-if-you-are-struggling-with-your-energy-bills/
And if you provide advice to others (or want to access resources yourself) the NEA has developed a series of multi-lingual information leaflets aimed at frontline workers to help provide advice in the communities. See www.nea.org.uk/get-help/advice-resources
Support and advice from Cambridgeshire County Council
Cambridgeshire County Council have information on the support available for energy bills. This can be viewed at www.cambridge.gov.uk/energy-bill-help
They also have information on other subjects, click below to read more:
- Financial support
- Household bill help
- Food help
- Debt and money advice
- Staying healthy with money worries
Support and advice from Peterborough City Council
Peterborough City Council have advice available at www.peterborough.gov.uk/council/campaigns/support-with-the-cost-of-living
This includes information on the Household Support Fund.
Support and advice from Norfolk County Council
Norfolk County Council has a welfare rights unit. The support available can include checking you are receiving money you are entitled to, through to representing you at tribunal/appeal hearings.
If you are an adult carer who would like to be referred for this support then please contact Carers Matter Norfolk on 0800 083 1148 or at [email protected]
If you are a parent carer (looking after a child with care needs) contact Caring Together on 0345 241 0954 or at [email protected] for a referral.
To find out more about the help and advice on benefits available from Norfolk County Council visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/care-support-and-health/support-for-living-independently/money-and-benefits/help-and-advice-with-benefits
Norfolk Assistance Scheme
If you are in financial hardship and struggling to pay your living costs, the Norfolk Assistance Scheme (NAS) may be able to help you.
The Norfolk County Council scheme offers emergency financial help, such as food vouchers, and help with fuel or utilities, or with rent arrears. Norfolk Assistance Scheme can also provide essential household goods and furniture, along with giving support, guidance and advice about other support organisations that are available.
NAS has two categories of support. One for individuals of working age and one for individuals aged 65 and over. NAS is working in partnership with the Age UK Norfolk and Age UK Norwich for support aimed at the over 65s.
You can apply for support online via www.norfolk.gov.uk/NAS.
If you are of working-age and do not have access to the internet, call 0344 800 8020
If you are aged 65 and over and with no access to the internet, call Your Norfolk Advice Line on 0333 996 8333
Norfolk Warm and Wise
If you would like a one-to-one energy advice appointment with Norfolk Warm and Wise contact www.cadat.org.uk/energy-advice-request/ or the Norfolk Adviceline on 0800 144 8848
The Norfolk Warm & Wise project is a partnership between Citizen Advice Diss, Thetford and District and Norfolk Citizens Advice.
