Financial Planning for Carers
You can get help and support if you’re responsible for looking after someone who has a disability, is getting older or has become ill.
Help with money
You may be able to get help to increase your income if your caring duties are affecting your finances. Citizens Advice website has lots of information on what financial support you may have access to. Depending on your income, assets and living arrangements, you might be able to:
- apply for Carer’s Allowance and other benefits
- get help with paying for prescriptions and other healthcare costs from the NHS low income scheme
- cut down your household costs, including gas and electricity bills, a free or discounted TV licence from TV Licensing or council tax discounts
- have your contributions towards your state pension covered by the government if you’ve given up or cut down paid work to care for someone – Carers UK has advice to help you protect your pension
- get a grant or other financial help from a local charity or trust – Turn2Us has details of charities that might be able to help you.
Help for the person you’re caring for
Making sure the person you’re caring for gets all the social care and support they’re entitled to could mean your role as a carer is made easier. They’re entitled to get a care needs assessment from the council. Depending on the person’s situation they may also be able to:
● make arrangements for you to look after their affairs, for example through power of attorney
● complain about the social care and support services they’ve received
Other help for carers
Wiltshire Citizens Advice (WCA) Carers Project
You can get free and impartial help to sort out your finances if you’re worried about having enough money to live on and meet your existing commitments. This could include better budgeting, learning how to make your money go further and dealing with debt problems.
The Wiltshire Citizens Advice Carers Project, funded by Wiltshire Council and the CCG, works closely with us at Carer Support Wiltshire to provide debt and benefit advice to people who are caring for someone in a non-professional capacity, often a family member but sometimes a friend or neighbour.
For those that come onto the project for debt or benefit issues, the project advisers will explore the options available and may signpost if appropriate. Carers residing in, or accessing GP surgeries in Wiltshire (excl. Swindon) are eligible for this support (capacity allowing). To find out more please contact your local citizen’s advice.
Coronavirus – get extra help if you’re a carer
Warm and Safe Wiltshire can offer help to those struggling with access to emergency prepayment meter top-ups* and mobile phone top-ups*, and, where there’s no heating in the home or homes are heated inadequately, oil-filled radiators* thanks to funding from Wiltshire Community Foundation.
They offer in-depth casework around managing energy bills and keeping warm, as well as helping you access additional support during this time to suit your needs, such as prescription services.
*Subject to availability
More information
If you need further help or advice, there are a number of organisations you can contact.
These include:
- Carers UK website has information about financial support available
- The Carers Trust website have information about grants available for you or the person you care for.
- AgeUK has information on financial Support for Carers
