Rights & money

A carer's assessment is a conversation with your council about the support you need. In England, the right is set out in the Care Act 2014.

What it can lead to

The council uses the assessment to decide whether you are eligible for support. This could include information and advice, help to take a break, or other support set out in a plan. What is offered depends on your assessed needs and local services.

Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own legislation and routes. Carers UK provides nation-specific guidance.

Sources: NHS and Carers UK.

Build a request for your own assessment, using the right name and contact route for your UK nation.

"Respite" can mean support at home for a few hours, a day service, a short stay or funding that allows you to take a break. You normally need to ask for an assessment.

How to ask for it

• Through your carer's assessment, which looks at your need for a break
• Through the person's own needs assessment or care plan, which may consider replacement care
• Through a local carers service, which may know about local grants or short-break schemes

Availability and charging vary by area. Ask the council or local carers' centre what is offered locally.

Sources: NHS and Carers UK.

The main benefit for people who care. Taxable, and it counts as income for other benefits.

Who qualifies

• You provide 35+ hours a week of care
• The person you care for gets a qualifying disability benefit (for example, PIP daily living, DLA middle/high care or Attendance Allowance)
• You earn no more than £204 a week after deductions
• You're 16+ and meet the education and residence rules

If you receive a State Pension

You cannot receive the full amount of both State Pension and Carer’s Allowance. If your pension is below the Carer’s Allowance rate, a payment may make up the difference. If it is at least that rate, there is normally no Carer’s Allowance payment.

You may still have underlying entitlement: you meet the caring conditions but another benefit prevents payment. This can increase means-tested support, including Pension Credit, or help you qualify. Ask for a benefits check rather than assuming there is nothing to claim.

GOV.UK: State Pension and Carer’s Allowance · Carers UK: underlying entitlement. In Scotland, check Carer Support Payment and overlapping benefits; in Northern Ireland use nidirect’s Carer’s Allowance guidance.

Also check the effect on the supported person’s Pension Credit, especially any severe-disability addition.

Sources: GOV.UK Carer's Allowance and Carers UK.

This is a National Insurance credit rather than a payment. It can help protect your State Pension record if caring has reduced your working hours.

Who it's for

• People aged 16 to below State Pension age caring 20+ hours a week, including those who do not qualify for Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment
• The person cared for usually gets a qualifying disability benefit (if not, a health or social care professional can sign a form)

Source: GOV.UK Carer's Credit.

An extra amount added to a Universal Credit claim if you look after someone.

Who qualifies

• You provide 35+ hours a week for someone on a qualifying disability benefit
• You're on Universal Credit (which is means-tested overall)

Source: GOV.UK Universal Credit amounts and carer element.

There are two separate types of council tax discount. Backdating may be possible.

1. A discount linked to the person's impairment

In England, the legal term is "severe mental impairment". This requires a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning that appears permanent. A diagnosis alone does not establish eligibility.

• A medical professional must certify the impairment, and the person must be entitled to a qualifying benefit.
• Someone who qualifies and lives alone may pay no Council Tax.
• If one other adult is counted for Council Tax, a 25% discount may apply. The calculation changes if other adults are also disregarded.

In Wales, the term is "significant cognitive impairment". Use the Welsh Government’s criteria and application guidance.

2. The carer discount

In England, a live-in carer may also be disregarded if they provide at least 35 hours of care a week, the person is entitled to a qualifying benefit, and the carer is not their spouse or partner, or the parent of a child under 18 they care for. Whether this reduces the bill depends on who else lives there.

Sources: GOV.UK Council Tax discounts and the government’s carer-disregard guidance.

If a health condition means they need help with personal care or supervision for safety, check the pension-age disability benefit for where they live. Mental-health needs can count. Eligibility depends on their needs and circumstances, not simply their age or diagnosis.

• England and Wales: Attendance Allowance. Care or supervision needs usually must have lasted six months; different rules apply near the end of life.
• Scotland: Pension Age Disability Payment. Use Social Security Scotland’s eligibility and application guidance.
• Northern Ireland: Attendance Allowance through nidirect.

These benefits are not means-tested and you do not have to be paying a carer to claim. Describe help they need, including help they are not currently getting. Check the full rules, including residence, hospital/care-home stays and existing disability awards.

An existing PIP or Adult Disability Payment award can continue after State Pension age. Get benefits advice before applying for a different benefit or asking to end an existing award.

Practical support for an older person · Pension Credit.

Pension Credit is separate from the State Pension. It may top up income after State Pension age and can open the door to other help. Owning a home or having some savings does not automatically rule it out.

Income, savings, caring or disability circumstances and a partner’s age can affect eligibility. Check both people’s circumstances if they are a couple.

Check disability and carer additions together. A qualifying disability benefit may help someone qualify for extra Pension Credit, but the severe-disability addition also depends on living arrangements and whether anyone is paid a carer benefit for looking after them. In Great Britain, payment of Carer’s Allowance, Scotland’s Carer Support Payment or a Universal Credit carer element can affect this addition.

A carer’s underlying entitlement without a Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment payment is different: it does not by itself remove that severe-disability addition. Ask a benefits adviser to check both people’s position before making a claim or changing an award. These rules do not mean that caring automatically gives either person an extra payment.

DWP: Pension Credit disability and carer additions in Great Britain. Use the Northern Ireland guidance below for local rules and advice.

Use GOV.UK for England, Wales and Scotland or nidirect for Northern Ireland. Ask a benefits adviser to check entitlement and interactions before making changes.

You may find yourself helping the person understand or apply for their own benefits, including PIP.

PIP (Personal Independence Payment)

PIP is tax-free and is not means-tested. New claims usually need to start from age 16 and before State Pension age; an existing award can continue afterwards. Eligibility depends on how a long-term condition affects daily living or mobility. It has two parts:

• Daily living: £76.70 (standard) or £114.60 (enhanced) a week
• Mobility: £30.30 or £80.00 a week

If they're too unwell to work

If a health condition affects their ability to work, they may need a Work Capability Assessment. A decision of limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) can mean extra Universal Credit. This is different from limited capability for work (LCW). Extra payment depends on the decision and their circumstances; ask a benefits adviser to check. GOV.UK: what the assessment decision means.

Always check current rates and rules before applying. In Scotland, use Adult Disability Payment. In Northern Ireland, use nidirect’s PIP guidance.

Sources: GOV.UK PIP rates, GOV.UK PIP guidance, PIP after State Pension age and Citizens Advice.

Some charities offer grants for specific costs, such as an essential appliance, a break or an unexpected bill.

Where to look

• Turn2us Grants Search: a free tool that matches your circumstances to charitable funds
• Turn2us Benefits Calculator: check you're getting everything first
• Find your local carers' centre through Carers Trust; ask whether it can help you apply for a Carers Fund grant and whether registration or a waiting list applies

Source: Carers Trust grants and discounts.

England, Wales and Scotland: the rights below apply to employees. In Northern Ireland, use nidirect: caring for someone while working for the applicable rules.

Carer's leave: a week a year

Employees can take up to one usual working week of unpaid carer's leave every 12 months, from their first day in the job. For example, working three days a week means up to three days of leave. It can be taken in half days, whole days or a week to give or arrange care for a dependant with a long-term care need. Follow the notice rules. An employer can postpone it only if the absence would cause serious disruption, and must arrange another date within a month. The person needing care does not have to be a relative.

Flexible working

Employees can request changes to hours, times or place of work from their first day. You can make two statutory requests in 12 months. The employer must consider the request and normally decide within two months, including any appeal. This is a right to request a change, not a guarantee it will be agreed.

Time off for emergencies

Employees can take a reasonable amount of unpaid time off to deal with an unexpected emergency involving a dependant, including arranging care. There is no fixed number of days; the time must be reasonable for the situation. Tell the employer as soon as possible. Planned care and longer-term arrangements may need a different type of leave.

Sources: unpaid carer's leave, flexible working and time off for dependants on GOV.UK.

If other people rely heavily on you, it is worth making an emergency plan before it is needed.

A Carer's Emergency Card

Some councils and local carers' centres offer an emergency-card scheme. The arrangements vary: a card may identify that someone depends on you and connect to a registered plan or contact.

Source: Carers UK: emergency planning and local schemes.

Managing their money and decisions

The lasting-power-of-attorney and deputyship arrangements below are for England and Wales. The linked government guides give the separate routes for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

• Lasting Power of Attorney: made while the person can decide to appoint someone; it can cover property and finances, health and welfare, or both.
• DWP appointee: only for managing benefits when the person cannot manage their own affairs.
• Deputyship: may be needed for particular ongoing decisions if the person lacks capacity and there is no relevant power of attorney.

Capacity can fluctuate and is decision-specific. Read the mental-capacity guide and get advice before setting these up.

Sources: lasting power of attorney, DWP appointees and deputyship on GOV.UK.

Confidentiality can limit what a service tells you about another adult. It does not prevent staff from listening to information you provide.

What you can do

• Give factual information about what you have seen, heard and when it changed.
• Ask the team to record your concerns in the person's notes.
• Ask what general information they can share about the service, warning signs and how to contact the team.
• During a stable period, ask the person whether they want consent to share information with you recorded in their care plan.

The government's SHARE guidance and NHS England's care framework support involving families and carers within confidentiality law. The Triangle of Care is a named framework you can ask whether the service uses.

Sources: GOV.UK SHARE guidance, NHS England and Carers Trust Triangle of Care.

Write down information-sharing preferences for the person to discuss and confirm with their care team.

In England and Wales, "nearest relative" is a legal role under the Mental Health Act. It is not the same as next of kin, and the person does not simply choose who holds it under the current rules.

Why it matters

Depending on the section and circumstances, the nearest relative may have rights connected with assessment, consultation, information and discharge. The exact powers are technical and there are exceptions.

Sources: GOV.UK nearest-relative information, Mind the current legal definition and the sectioning guide.

Start with the problem that could cause the most immediate harm. Rent, mortgage, Council Tax and essential utilities usually need attention before unsecured debts.

If a benefit has stopped or been reduced

• Read the decision and note its date and reason.
• Ask Citizens Advice or a welfare-rights service whether to request a mandatory reconsideration.
• If Universal Credit has been reduced because of a sanction, check whether a hardship payment is available. It normally has to be repaid.

If debt is building

Use free debt advice before borrowing more or agreeing a repayment you cannot afford. StepChange can help identify priority bills and discuss creditors. A debt adviser can also explain whether a standard Breathing Space may apply.

If housing is at risk

Contact Shelter or Citizens Advice as soon as there are rent or mortgage arrears, a notice or a threat of eviction. In England and Wales, a separate mental-health-crisis breathing space may be available when the person is receiving qualifying crisis treatment. An Approved Mental Health Professional must provide evidence of qualifying treatment; a debt adviser considers eligibility and starts the protection. A family member or carer can approach the adviser on their behalf.

Sources: GOV.UK hardship payments, Citizens Advice mandatory reconsideration, StepChange priority bills and Shelter mental-health-crisis breathing space.