Financial Support for Parents and Carers of Disabled People
Financial Support for Parents and Carers of Disabled People
For parents and other carers of disabled people, young and old, financial concerns can be a challenging reality. It is no secret that caring for someone with a disability is rewarding, but it can also be both emotionally and financially demanding.
As a carer, you owe it to yourself and those you care for to understand the kind of financial support and potential benefits that are available to you.
As a disability charity in Devon, we know how important it is to recognise the challenges faced by carers and parents of people with disabilities, especially when it comes to money. Seeking help with benefits and funding can help you cover the costs of things like accessible holidays and new specialist equipment along with practical costs of everyday life.
Getting a Carer’s Assessment
There are a number of schemes and benefits that carers of disabled people can access when seeking financial aid. If you care for someone else, you are eligible for a carer’s assessment, which will be undertaken by your local council. The test is free and can be requested by anyone over the age of 18.
Organising this assessment is often the first step to take when considering what kind of support can be given to you – whether this includes financial or practical help or both.
When you get a carer’s assessment, you could get help with:
- Housework and gardening.
- Taxi fares.
- Help with caring to give you a break.
- Specialist training and equipment to help with your role as a carer.
- Advice on benefits and for careers.
If you do qualify for this support from the council, help with finances may be included in your subsequent care and support plan. However, a further financial assessment may also be required after your initial carer’s assessment.
You can get a carer’s assessment by contacting your local council. To find out more about organising one, get in touch with them or refer to the NHS website.
Carer’s Allowance
As a carer, you may be entitled to a variety of monetary benefits to help with the additional costs that supporting someone with a disability can bring – especially if your role as a carer means you cannot work in full-time employment.
If your carer’s assessment deems that you are a carer and eligible for benefits, you can receive a carer’s allowance. This is a state benefit that includes £67.60 a week. This can be claimed by carers who look after someone for 35 or more hours a week and comply with the other rules of eligibility.
Other Benefits for Carers
If you are a parent of a disabled child, you can claim the disability living allowance for children, which can amount to between £23.60 and £151.40 a week.
Other state benefits like the carer’s credit and carer premium can offer some additional allowances. To find out more about claiming a carer’s allowance and other related benefits, you can go to the government website.
Disability Grants
While a carer’s allowance can offer some relief, paying for more expensive things like outings, trips and equipment may require more extensive funding. Applying for a grant through a disability charity can prove a great option for those that need extra financial support. Most grants will not have to be paid back, unlike a loan.
Many UK charities facilitate grants – this money is used for things that cannot be provided for by the local authorities.
Turn2Us is a wonderful organisation that makes searching for potential grants and funding that bit easier. Conditions of charitable grants will be different from charity to charity, so finding the right one for you can be tricky. The Turn2US Grant Search helps narrow down the grants that you could be eligible for.
Their Benefits Calculator is another helpful tool that supports people who are trying to understand the kind of financial benefits available to them.
The Disability Grants site provides another useful database to help you discover the right aid for you and the disabled person you care for.
How to Find the Right Financial Support
As with the facilitation of grants and funding, there are plenty of organisations out there that offer resources and advice on finding the right avenue for financial support.
We have already mentioned some great resources, but other places to turn to for more advice on seeking help with money include Carers UK and Citizens Advice.
The kind of aid you need may often depend on your individual situation, so make sure to take advantage of all the available resources.
Support for the Person You’re Caring For
Making sure the person you care for also has access to the financial and social care they are entitled to can help alleviate some of the pressures on you.
The person you care for may be able to claim disability benefits, so make sure to look into this along with the potential benefits that you yourself can apply for.
Struggling with money as a carer can be isolating, but it’s important to recognise that there is support for those that need it. As a parent or carer of a disabled person, you should not have to worry over money on top of everyday stressors.
Supporting people with disabilities and their families is at the heart of what we do. Find out more about our bursary options to discover how you could be supported when organising an accessible activity holiday to Calvert Trust Exmoor.
For more information about The Calvert Experience, please get in touch with our friendly team.
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