Benefits for Carers
Benefits, Entitlements & Money
- Key Benefits for Carers
- Families and Children
- Financial Information for People going into a Residential or Nursing Home for Respite Care
- Financial Information for People going into a Residential or Nursing Home on a Permanent Basis
- Home Care Charges
- Caring and Pensions
- Money in General
Key Benefits for Carers
There is a wide range of benefits provided by the government for you 'the Carer' and the person you care for. Below is a list of the main benefits specific to Carers. For information on all other benefits, please connect to the Department for Work and Pensions 
Information given on this site is not benefit advice but an indicator as to what financial help you might be able to receive from the government.
- Attendance Allowance
Paid if you have needed help looking after yourself for at least 6 months and are age 65 or over. - Carers Allowance
For Carers who spend over 35 hours a week looking after someone who has severe disability. - Carers Allowance and the Carer Premium for people aged 65 or over
Many older people are now entitled to additional money to help with their caring responsibilities. - Disability Living Allowance (for people under the age of 16)
You can claim DLA for a child with a severe physical or mental illness or disability if they need much more help or looking after than other children of the same age because of their illness or disability. - Disability Living Allowance (for people aged 16 and over)
Paid if you have needed help for 3 months because of a severe physical or mental illness or disability, and are you likely to need it for at least another 6 months. - Incapacity Benefit
For people incapable of work due to sickness or disability.
Other benefits you might be interested in are listed below.
- Bereavement Allowance (replaces Widow's Pension)
- Bereavement Payment (formerly Widow's Payment)
- Community Care Grants
- Council Tax Benefit
- Council Tax Benefit Extended
- Crisis Loan
- Help with Health Costs
- Housing Benefit
- Housing Benefit Extended Payment
- Income Support
- Income Support for Residential Accommodation
- Minimum Income Guarantee (Now replaced by Pension Credit)
- New Deal Welfare to Work
- Pension Service (all about your entitlements when you retire)
- Residential Care or Nursing Homes
- Retirement Pensions
- Retirement Pension Forecast
- Severe Disablement Allowance
- Stakeholder Pensions
- Statutory Sick Pay
- Temporary stays in a Residential Care or Nursing Home
- Travel costs to and from hospital
- Winter Fuel Payments
- Working Tax Credit
Families and Children
The government is responsible for a range of benefits and services for families. These include:
Bringing up children with special needs
- Long-term ill or disabled
- Sick and unable to work
- Caring for others
- In hospital
Further information on the above and other benefits for families and children can be found on www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/famchild/index.asp
Financial Information for People going into a Residential or Nursing Home for Respite Care
For financial information on people who are going into a Residential or Nursing home for Respite Care, how much the charges are and how you can get help towards the cost. We hope the following link can help answer those questions for you. www.tameside.gov.uk/carehomes/financial/respite
Financial Information for People going into a Residential or Nursing Home on a Permanent Basis
Moving into a residential or nursing home permanently can be quite a difficult time. There are many things you will need to know and sort out, such as, what will happen to your own property, what about your benefits, how much will it cost you and what happens if your circumstances change? Follow this link for further information
Home Care Charges
If you are getting a Home Care service arranged by Adult Services you'll need to know how much you have to pay for the service and what you can do if you can't afford the charge. This information along with other helpful advice can be found on www.tameside.gov.uk/homecare
Caring and Pensions
State Pensions for Carers and Parents - Your Guide
Are you making sure you will receive as much State Pension as possible when you retire?
This government guide from the Pension Service is for you if you:
- Are looking after a child under the age of 16; and
- Are not in paid work or do not earn enough in a tax year for it to count towards the basic State Pension (below £3900 in the 2002/03 tax year); and
- Get Child Benefit
This government guide is for you if you:
- Are looking after someone who has a long-term illness or disability (including a child aged six or over); and
- Are not in paid work, or do not earn enough in a tax year for it to count towards the basic State pension (below £3900 in the 2002/03 tax year)
The guide gives you information on:
- The basic State Pension
- The additional State Pension (State Second Pension from April 2002)
- How some benefits and Home Responsibilities Protection (p.25) can help you build up State Pension between now and State pension age: and
- Whether you need to claim, how to claim, and where to get more information.
The guide can be obtained 
0845 731 32 33. You can also read the guide on the internet at www.thepensionservice.gov.uk
Disabled Pensioners and Carers
Information on Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance and War Disablement Pension can be found on the government's website for pensioners at www.thepensionservice.gov.uk . Here you can also access the Pensioners' guide for pensioners in general. The following topics are covered.
Money and tax
Getting more money
Disabled pensioners and Carers
Income Tax
Legal services and crime
Legal advice and information
Bogus callers and con-type burglaries
Neighbourhood watch
Victim Support
Health and Social Care and Health
NHS-funded nursing care in nursing homes
A guide to disability rights & services
Standards in healthcare, social care & housing services
Travel and leisure
Cheaper bus fares
Driving licences
Free television licences for people aged 75 or over
National museums and galleries
At home
Keeping your home warm
Winter fuel payment
Cold weather payment
Home energy efficiency scheme
Home improvements
Sheltered housing
General safety in the home
Voluntary and paid work
Volunteer Bureaux
Paid work - New Deal 50 plus Employment Service & the National Minimum Wage
Learning
Learndirect
UK online centres
Losing a loved one
Making a Will
Inheritance tax
Funeral payment
Bereavement payment
The guide offers an extensive list of useful contacts to help you with any of the above and can also be obtained by telephoning 0845 6 065 065.
Money in General
Independent Financial Advice
Making decisions about money and savings for the future is a highly specialist area. It is recommended you seek independent financial advice through an independent body. To find your nearest financial advisor for information on the following topics, please connect to www.ifap.org
Personal retirement planning
Personal Protection
Healthcare/Long-term care
Investment and Saving
ISAs/Unit Trusts
Investment Trusts
Taxation Planning
Offshore investments
Ethical investments
Stockbroking services
Residential Mortgages
Personal Stakeholder Pension
Equity Release
Ex-patriot services
Traded Endowment policies
Saving for Children
Useful Organisations to Contact
The following organisations should be able to help you with a variety of issues on money:
Age Concern
A charitable organisation for older people and ageing related issues
Department for Work & Pensions (formerly DSS)
Information on:
Benefits and services
Families and children
Working age
Pensions and retirement
Citizens Advice Bureau
For free, confidential, impartial and independent advice on a limitless range of subjects. If you are seeking on-line advice for instance on debt, mortgages or other matters then contact www.adviceguide.org.uk
National Debtline - 0808 808 4000
| Contact Information | |
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 Send us a Message |
 Welfare Rights Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne OL6 6DL |
 Benefits Hotline Freephone
0800 0749985 Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9.30am - 12.30pm |
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