Benefits Support, Financial Wellbeing and Energy Advice
Worried about making ends meet for you or the people you’re caring for?
North Tyneside Carers’ Centre is supporting carers facing financial challenges through the Carer Money Matters Project.
As a carer, we know that your own worries aren’t always at the top of your list. But we also know that there are so many other things you’re worrying about too. Many of you have told us you’re struggling to make ends meet and pay bills on time.
That’s why we’re here – to help make money less of a worry.
We want to help you worry less about money, for you and the people you’re caring for. Carer Money Matters can help you understand, and get, the financial support you’re entitled to.
Navigating the Benefits System as an unpaid carer
We understand the benefits system is confusing and complex and we offer free advice on accessing and applying for welfare benefits. We can support you to understand the benefits that you and the person you care for might be entitled to. We can also help you to access and complete the forms that can be so daunting for the layperson.
Help to lower energy bills
The project provides assistance with reducing your energy bills and energy debt. We can help you get on the Priority Services Register with your supplier, which will help you get extra support with things like meter readings, advance warnings of supply interruptions and how to save on cooking and heating. You’ll also get priority reconnection if your supply is interrupted. We’ll also advise you on practical ways to reduce your energy bills that work for your individual circumstances.
Financial wellbeing and debt
We can talk to you about other money matters too, whether it’s for you or the people you care for. We understand that balancing caring responsibilities and finances isn’t easy, and we can help you to access the support you need to manage money and reduce debt.
Taking care of others means taking care of yourself. So, please get the help you need to help the people you care for.
How to get help from Carer Money Matters?
To access our benefits and financial wellbeing support, you’ll need to be registered with us. To register, fill out our self referral form or if you need assistance please call us and we will help you complete it.
Call: 01912496480
Email: enquiries@ntcarers.co.uk
Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is a benefit that helps with the extra costs of long-term illness or disability, which can be either physical and/or mental. It is for people over their state pension age. To find out more about making a claim visit www.gov.uk
Carers Allowance
Carer’s Allowance is the main benefit for carers. If you are caring for someone for 35 hours a week or more and the person you care for gets one of the qualifying benefits, you may be eligible. To find out more about making a claim visit www.gov.uk.
Carer’s Credit
Carer’s Credit is a way of protecting your State Pension rights if you are looking after someone, but are not paying National Insurance contributions through paid work and are unable to claim Carer’s Allowance. You do not get paid any money if you claim Carer’s Credit. However you do get a National Insurance contribution credit to help protect your record (which helps to protect your entitlement to a State Pension). To find out more about making a claim visit www.gov.uk.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
If you or the person you care for have a long term illness or disability – physical and/or mental – and you are aged from 16 to below your state pension age, you may be entitled to Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
When you are applying for PIP, it is useful to keep a diary about your condition which can help you when filling in the PIP application form. This diary can be used as evidence to support your PIP claim.
The diary will help you to:
- Show how much help you need with your condition.
- How it affects you both during the day and night.
- How long tasks can take due to your condition.
- Share your good and bad days.
Download this PIP diary template and print it or fill it in on your phone/computer. To find out more about making a claim visit the PIP online application page or speak to our Benefits and Financial Wellbeing Advisor on 0191 2496480 or email: enquiries@ntcarers.co.uk
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance for adults is not being replaced with PIP (see below). If you are looking after a child with a health condition or disability who is under the age of 16 years, they may be entitled to Disability Living Allowance (DLA).This can help towards the extra costs of bringing up a disabled child. To find out more about making a claim visit www.gov.uk
Housing Benefit and Bedroom Tax
Are you are on a low income and living in rented accommodation? Housing Benefit can help with your rent. If you receive housing benefit and live in a property which is judged to have more bedrooms than you need your housing benefit may be reduced. To find out more about this and how to claim visit www.gov.uk
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is replacing Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit. You receive one payment to cover all these different benefits if you’re entitled. You can apply for Universal Credit online. It is paid monthly and the total amount you receive may be different to what you receive now. To find out more about making a claim click on www.gov.uk
Council Tax Reduction (sometimes called Council Tax Support)
This scheme is run by local authorities to help those on a low income with their council tax bill.
More information
There are a number of circumstances in which properties can be exempt from council tax, such as:
- if you have left the property empty and it is no longer your main residence because you are providing personal care to someone
- when the only person(s) living in the property are severely mentally impaired and no one else could be liable to pay the council tax
- if the property has been left empty by someone who is now resident in a hospital, a care home or a hostel where personal care is provided.
Find out more at:
www.carersuk.org
Bernadette, the Benefits and Financial Wellbeing Advisor
for Carer Money Matters in North Tyneside.