We realise that the financial impact on caring for someone is worrying for carers and their families.

Carers may have to reduce or give up work to fulfil the caring role and those who are cared for also may have had to give up work, or be reliant on benefits, and may well have additional household expenses as a result.

Confidential Welfare Benefit Service

As a carer you may be entitled to government benefits and allowances to help you continue in your caring role or to cover some of the extra costs associated with caring. You can contact our welfare benefit advice service to discuss your eligibility for benefits or to help you make an application.

Benefit Check

A benefit check takes no more than 30 minutes, is totally confidential and free of charge. During the last financial year, 1,488 welfare benefit checks were undertaken by our staff. This resulted in 1,002 benefit forms being completed and a massive £3.6 million in welfare benefits being gained on behalf of carers and their families. We will always complete a full benefit check in a change of circumstances to ensure carers and their cared for are claiming the correct benefit and receiving full entitlement

Filling in Benefit forms

We support carers and the cared for with filling in forms, Personal Independence Payment, Disability Benefit, Attendance Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance forms, Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit capability for work forms, Housing and council tax benefit. We can support carers with applying online for Carers allowance and Universal Credit.