Site guide
Financial help, rights and benefits
Attendance AllowanceCarers Allowance
Carers Credit
Self-directed Support - Direct Payments
Disability Living Allowance
Employment Support Allowance
Family Fund
Grants and Funding Opportunities
Help with Council Tax bills
Other benefits and concessions
Retirement Pension Protection
State Second Pension
Vaccine Damage Payment scheme
Work & Families Act
What is this section?
You and the person you care for may be entitled to a range of financial help in the form of benefits. The regulations on these can be quite complex and do change from time to time. You can get help to see if they apply to you, and help with completing application forms. Have a look at the list of people who can help at the bottom of this page. Likewise there is legislation intended to support and protect you while you are caring. You can get help and advice on whether this can help.
Carers Benefits (added 31.1.11)
As a carer you may be able to claim several benefits. The NHS website has a short test to work out which benfits you are likely to be eligible for. Take the test at: www.nhs.uk
Free Benefits advice
Do you have a child with a disability or additional needs and need some help in accessing the right DWP benefits? West Sussex County Council and Aiming High for Disabled Children are funding a Benefits Advisor to help with claiming Disability Living Allowance, Carers Allowance, Income Support, Housing Benefit, Employment Support Allowance, Tax Credits etc.
Contact David Harper, WSCC, 6 Southey Road, Worthing BN11 3HT or email: david.harper@westsussex.gov.uk giving your child's name and age as well as your contact details and you will be contacted to arrange an appointment.
(added 18.5.10)
Carers and Pensions Handbook
Download this guide or get pensions advice and information online from
www.carersuk.org/Information/Caringforyourpension
Carers and their Rights (Carersnet)
There are a number of rights for carers which have been developed. The following link, which takes you to the Carers website for Surrey, outlines the legislation which is currently available, it also outlines guidance documents which have been developed to support the effective delivery of the legislation and other documents which have been developed to inform carers and people working with carers.
Carersnets' Carers Rights Information, click here.
You can get more information from:
http://yourmoney.moneyadviceservice.org.uk (added 5.9.11) Impartial information and guidance from the Money Advice Service, an independent body established by the Financial Services Authority, on what options may be available and what you should think about before you make a decision.
Cash Counts: online service from Contact a Family to make sure families receive what they are entitled to (added 1.3.10)
Cash Counts is an online benefits calculator to help families with disabled children work out how much they are entitled to. To access the calculator visit www.cafamily.org.uk/cashcounts
Information on benefits and services - Department for Work and Pensions website providing information and downloadable forms for claiming benefits and pensions
Family Fund Extra - helping families of disabled children make their money go further
The Family Fund has launched Family Fund Extra, a scheme offering discounts on goods and services such as electrical products and holidays for people caring for a child or young person up to the age of 25. For more information and to register visit www.familyfundextra.co.uk
Information about other benefits which might be worth considering can be found on the Carers UK website
Click here for the Carers UK website
There are people who can help:
Shelter - if you are struggling with unmanageable debt, rent or mortgage arrears, Shelter has information and advice which may be of help.The Citizen's Advice Bureau - A national voluntary organisation providing free information and advice on a wide range of issues. The website contains a great deal of useful information on a huge range of topics.
Contact details for West Sussex Adults' and Children and Young People's Services (health and social care)
West Sussex Carers Support Services will be able to help you check what might be best for you.
Search
If you are having trouble finding the information you need on this website you could try using one of the following search options:Local Search
You can use this facility to search the Carers Online database for organisations in West Sussex that may be able to help you.
Search this Site
You can use this facility to search the website for a particular keyword or phrase.