Grants and benefits available

There is a lot of support available for carers and the people you care for including: Carers Allowance - you could get a weekly payment if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they are claiming benefits. You can find out more and apply on the gov.uk website Carer Premium - you may be able to get Carers Allowance and/or Carer Premium. The Carer Premium is an extra payment you can get if you’re caring for someone and receiving eligible benefits. You can find more information on the Citizens Advice webpage Carers Credit - you could receive this if you’re caring for someone for at least 20 hours a week. Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit that helps with gaps in your National Insurance record. This is important as your State Pension is based on this record. You can find out more and apply on the gov.uk website Carers Trust have some grants available through your local Carers Trust Network Partner. You can find your nearest Carers Trust Network Partner by searching ‘Find support in your area’. Turn2us is a free service that helps people access welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help – online, by phone and face-to-face. Disability Grants has information about charities and trusts which give out grants to disabled people and their carers.

Help for the person you care for

The person you care for might be able to receive a personalised care budget (this is an amount of money to spend based on how much it will cost in your local area to arrange the care and support you need). They also may be able to get help with their health costs which vary depending on where you live. Find out more from Citizens Advice about help with health costs in England Find out more from NHS Wales about help with health costs in Wales Find out more from Citizens Advice Scotland about help with health costs in Scotland Find out more from NIDirect about help with health costs in Northern Ireland .

Respite care means taking a break from caring, while the person you care for is looked after by someone else. It lets you take time out to look after yourself and helps stop you becoming exhausted and run down. There are lots of respite care options. They range from getting a volunteer to sit with the person you look after for a few hours, to a short stay in a care home so you can go on holiday. To learn more about MHA's respite care services, please visit our respite care webpage >

Help from your employer

If you are currently working, you don’t have to tell your management about your caring responsibilities, but your employer must offer you certain legal rights. These include: The right to ask for flexible working , which could include reducing your hours or working from home. Time off in emergencies - meaning if the person you care for falls ill, has an accident or is without care unexpectedly, you have the right to take time off work. Your employer isn't obliged to offer you more than the legal requirements but some workplaces have policies that might give you more support or time off, for example through a sabbatical or career break. Check with your line manager or HR department to find out what you’re entitled to.

Support from other carers

You may find it helpful to speak to other carers and share experiences. Carers UK have details of local support groups and online forums where you can meet other carers like you online and in person.

There are discounts available for carers. Make sure when you are buying tickets for things like travel or events, check if they have a discounted carers option or some places offer carers a free ticket. Carers Trust CarerSmart discount club which offers cash back, discounts on insurance, travel, high street shops, and much more You may be able to get a free or discounted TV licence. There’s more information about this on the Carers Trust website .

What support is available for unpaid carers? | MHA

If you spend a lot of time helping someone who is disabled, seriously ill, or needs a lot of extra help, then you are a carer, even if you haven’t thought of yourself in that way before.

Caring can be rewarding at times, but also tough. You can feel like you’ve been left to fend for yourself. But you are entitled to support, and you can ask for it.

Watch this video from Independent Age about what support you could receive as a carer.