Unpaid carers are the hidden face of social care in the UK. Anyone who provides care for a friend or family member needing additional support for free can be classed as an unpaid carer.
Over 5 million people are unpaid carers, and this figure is thought to largely underestimate the level of unpaid care in the UK, as most people will have some caring responsibilities in their lifetime.
However, being an unpaid carer can be emotionally and physically challenging as well as having financial implications for those giving up their time to provide free support to their loved ones. This is why supporting carers is so essential.
In this article, we explore what support for carers is available and provide advice for carers on how to access support.
Financial support
One of the challenges many unpaid carers face is the financial impact of being unable to pursue paid work or not working as often as they would like due to their caring responsibilities. The government and local councils have introduced several benefit schemes to provide carers financial support. Each has its own criteria though, so you will not necessarily qualify for financial support just because you are acting as an unpaid carer.
Below, we explore some of the most common financial benefits available for unpaid carers:
Carer’s Allowance
Carer’s Allowance is the main financial benefit available for unpaid carers and is provided by the government.
The person you care for doesn’t have to be related to you and you don’t have to live with them.
However, they must already get one of the below benefits:
- Personal Independence Payment
- Disability Living Allowance
- Attendance Allowance
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Child Disability Payment – the middle or highest care rate
- Adult Disability Payment – daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate
In addition, you can only qualify for Carer’s Allowance if:
- You are caring for someone for over 35 hours per week
- You are 16 or older
- You live in England, Scotland or Wales
- You’re not in full-time education
- You are not studying for more than 21 hours per week
- You earn below £151 a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses (2024/2025)
You can only claim Carer’s Allowance for one person even if you care for more. Or if you split the care with someone else, only one of you can claim Carer’s Allowance.
It is also important to note that Carer’s Allowance counts as income for tax credit and unearned income for universal credit and may also affect other benefits you claim.
The government website has more advice for carers on the Carer’s Allowance.
Carer’s Allowance is known as the Carer Support Payment in Scotland and the eligibility criteria may differ slightly.
Carer’s Credit
Carer’s Credit is not money but a National Insurance credit, which counts towards other benefits like the state pension. Carer’s Credit is suitable for those over 16 who provide at least 20 hours of care per week and are under state pension age.
In most circumstances, to be able to qualify the person you provide care for must also benefit from one of the following:
- Disability Living Allowance care component at the middle or highest rate
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment daily living part
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Child Disability Payment (CDP) care component at the middle or highest rate
- Adult Disability Payment daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate
- Pension Age Disability Payment
However, if the person you care for doesn’t receive any of these benefits, you may still be eligible for Carer’s Credit. When applying you simply need to fill in the ‘Care Certificate’ part of the application and get a health or social care professional to sign it.
Find out more about your eligibility for Carer’s Credit.
Carer element of Universal Credit
If you meet the criteria for claiming Carer’s Allowance, you may be eligible to receive extra money through Universal Benefit, known as the carer element.
However, unlike Carer’s Allowance, where you cannot claim if you earn more than £151 per week (2024/2025), for the carer’s element of Universal Credit your level of earnings doesn’t prevent you from claiming. However, as it is means-tested, your total income will affect how much you are entitled to overall.
Grants from local councils or charities
Many local councils offer grants to unpaid carers to help with costs or to cover the cost of respite care, so you can take a well-deserved break. There are also a number of charities that specifically support carers and can offer further advice and support, such as Carers First, Carers Trust and Carers UK.
The Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund is provided by local councils and designed to support you with things like:
- Energy and water bills
- Food
- Essential items
The funding is aimed at anyone who cannot pay for essentials and doesn’t affect other benefits you may receive.
Councils run their own schemes so you should check with your local council to find out what support may be available to you.
Help with caregiving duties
Caring for someone can be physically and mentally demanding, so finding out what support with caregiving is available from your local council is crucial.
Generally, help for carers with caregiving may include:
- Practical assistance, such as equipment or home adaptations which make your caring duties easier.
- Respite care so that you can take a break from your caring duties
- Support in a day centre
- Hourly or overnight care to ensure round-the-clock support when you are unable to be around
The first step to finding out more about the types of help for carers in your area is by getting a Care Needs Assessment. This will help identify the level of care the person you are caring for requires, and how you can best be supported to provide this.
Support networks
Having a reliable support network is essential for any unpaid carer, as the daily care of a loved one or friend can be draining on physical and emotional well-being.
Having other family members or friends around to help support you is imperative. They may take on some of the practical responsibilities of caring to give you a break or may help support you in other ways, whether that’s just catching up over a coffee or helping you with your own household chores.
In addition to family and friends, you can access support through your local charities set up to provide support for carers.
Carers UK
Carers UK provides unpaid carers with free advice, support and information. Their telephone helpline enables you to reach out and get support from someone who understands what you’re going through. In addition, they also run online meet-ups with other carers going through similar things and offer a Carers Active Hub with free online resources to help you take care of yourself.
Carers Trust
Carers Trust helps provide help for carers by offering access to a variety of resources and services tailored to the unique needs of unpaid carers.
You can find out about the services available near you using their handy online support search.
Training and education
Caring for someone is a huge responsibility that not only requires a regular commitment but also involves understanding more about any conditions the person you’re caring for suffers from.
From understanding the complexities of a condition to knowing how to manage it or what to do in an emergency, there is a huge amount you need to know to provide safe and effective care. This is why training and education are an important aspect of supporting carers.
Fortunately, there are many training and education options for unpaid carers, many of which are free, including:
- Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) – provides free online courses for carers designed to fit around caring responsibilities
- Local Council Adult Learning Service – your local council will offer classes at venues or online that can help you gain knowledge and even caring qualifications
- Carers UK online courses – these free online courses provide information on various topics, from caring for someone with dementia to helping build your confidence as a carer
- Empowering unpaid carers from Learning Plus – this course is specifically designed to help carers address the challenges of juggling unpaid care with the demands of the rest of their lives and employment
Take a break with respite care
If you are providing unpaid care, it’s important to look after yourself too. Taking regular breaks from caring can help prevent burnout and ensure you can provide the best possible care the rest of the time.
Respite care is the ideal solution for any carers planning a break as it ensures the person receiving care continues to receive support while you are away. Although other friends or family members can provide respite care, the advantage of using a dedicated home care provider, like Trinity Homecare, is that you know your loved one will receive high-quality care tailored to their bespoke needs.
Trusted respite home care from Trinity
If you’re looking for respite care so that you can take a well-earned break, trust Trinity Homecare. For the past 25 years, we have provided the highest standards of respite care in the comfort of people’s own homes, ensuring those who rely on care still receive the heartfelt helping hand they need when their current carer cannot be by their side.
Trinity Homecare is a fully managed care agency with an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating, placing Trinity amongst the top 4% of all nationwide care companies in England. With this in mind, you can rest assured that your loved one will receive the highest standard of care and specialist support.
If you have any questions about arranging respite care, simply get in touch with our helpful and knowledgeable care team.
Arranging nationwide respite care with Trinity is straightforward.
Simply follow these five steps:
- Call our care team
- Undergo a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your care needs and arrange a care assessment
- After the assessment, a plan of care is created
- A well-suited carer is found and placed
- Care can be adapted at any time
