You wake before dawn to help your spouse get dressed. You skip lunch breaks to check on your aging parent. You’ve cancelled plans so many times friends stopped inviting you.
This is the reality for 7 million unpaid carers in the UK – a silent army providing care worth three times the entire NHS budget. Yet shockingly, 1 in 4 carers are cutting back on food and heating to make ends meet.
Here’s what most carers don’t realise: You’re entitled to financial help. From benefits you’ve never heard of to hidden council grants, this guide reveals every pound available to make your caring journey easier.
1. Carer’s Allowance: The £81.90 Weekly Lifeline
What It Is
- £81.90 per week (2024 rate)
- For those caring 35+ hours weekly
Eligibility
- The person you care for must receive certain benefits (PIP, DLA, Attendance Allowance)
- You must earn under £151 weekly after deductions
Key Facts
- Only 60% of eligible carers claim it
- Can be backdated up to 3 months
- Doesn’t affect the benefits of the person you care for
Pro Tip: Even if you’re over State Pension age, check eligibility – special rules apply.
2. Council Tax Discounts: The Overlooked Saving
Carer’s Discount
- Up to 50% off if you live with and care for someone
- Requires the person cared for to be “substantially disabled”
Severe Mental Impairment Relief
- 100% discount possible if the person you care for qualifies
- Applies to dementia, severe learning disabilities
Shocking Fact: 3 in 5 eligible carers never apply for council tax reductions.
3. Local Authority Support: Your Council’s Hidden Funds
Carer’s Personal Budgets
- Some councils pay £300-£500 yearly for respite or equipment
- Requires a Carer’s Assessment
Discretionary Housing Payments
- Help if caring responsibilities affect your rent
How to Apply
- Contact your local council’s Adult Social Services
- Request a Carer’s Assessment
- Ask specifically about financial support
Did You Know? Carer support varies wildly by postcode – always ask what’s available locally.
4. Charitable Grants: Free Money You Don’t Pay Back
Turn2Us Grants Search
- Database of 3,000+ funds
- Awards from £200-£5,000
Specialist Charities
- Motor Neurone Disease Association: Equipment grants
- MS Society: Respite funding
- Age UK: Local hardship funds
Success Story: One carer received £2,400 for a specialist bed through a charity they’d never heard of.
5. NHS Continuing Healthcare: The Full Funding Option
What It Covers
- 100% funded care at home or in facilities
- For those with complex medical needs
The Assessment
- Uses a checklist then full assessment
- Only 15% of applications succeed initially
- 72% win on appeal with proper evidence
Key Tip: Focus on unpredictability and intensity of needs in your application.
6. Employer Support: Rights at Work
Carer’s Leave Act 2023
- 1 week unpaid leave yearly
- Protected right (can’t be fired for taking it)
Flexible Working Requests
- All employees can now request from day one
- Includes compressed hours or remote work
Workplace Schemes
- Some employers offer paid carer’s leave
- John Lewis gives 2 weeks paid
- HSBC offers 5 days yearly
Stat: 1 in 7 carers reduce working hours, losing £7,000+ annually.
7. Energy and Cost of Living Help
Priority Services Register
- Free from all energy companies
- Gives:
- Advance outage warnings
- Password protection from scammers
- Priority support
Warm Home Discount
- £150 off electricity bills
- Automatic if getting Carer’s Allowance
WaterSure Scheme
- Caps water bills if on benefits
- Helps with extra laundry costs
8. Transport Discounts: Getting Around for Less
Bus Passes
- Free local travel in many areas
- Often automatic with Carer’s Allowance
Railcards
- Disabled Person’s Railcard: 1/3 off
- Carer goes free with some tickets
Blue Badge
- Now covers “hidden disabilities”
- Lets you park closer to destinations
9. Respite Funding: Taking a Break Without Guilt
Local Authority Breaks
- Some councils fund 2-6 weeks yearly
- Can be used for:
- Holiday grants
- Temporary care cover
Charity Breaks
- Revitalise: Subsidised respite holidays
- Carers Trust: Local break vouchers
Important: You have a legal right to respite under the Care Act 2014.
10. Future Planning: Protecting Yourself
National Insurance Credits
- Automatically applied with Carer’s Allowance
- Protects your State Pension entitlement
Carer’s Credit
- For those ineligible for Carer’s Allowance
- Fills gaps in your NI record
Power of Attorney
- £82-£164 to register
- Prevents future legal headaches
Caring is an act of love, but love shouldn’t mean financial hardship. Every unclaimed benefit, every overlooked grant represents help you’ve earned through your daily devotion.
The system isn’t perfect – it requires persistence, paperwork and patience. But the money exists. The support exists. And crucially, you exist – not just as a carer, but as a person deserving of security and respite.
Start today with one small step:
- Book that Carer’s Assessment you’ve put off
- Spend 10 minutes on the Turn2Us grants checker
- Call your council about that council tax discount
Because the difference between struggling and surviving could be one form you haven’t yet filled in.