Financial Help for Carers

Carers are never adequately rewarded for their work. But there is financial help available for carers and it is important that you claim it. Below is an outline of what’s available. There is also some updated information on the Wirral Council website which you can access by clicking on this link 'Financial Help For Carers'.

Benefits

A number of benefits are available to support people who have caring responsibilities. And, happily, there are also some very knowledgeable local people who can advise you about whether you are eligible, and how to apply.

Whatever your benefit related enquiry Wirral Borough Council’s Welfare Rights service would be a good first port of call. Their number is 0151 666 4570 and they can be contacted on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9.30 –12.30 and from 2 – 4. Or you can call into Conway Centre, Conway Street, Birkenhead at the same times.

Benefits for the Disabled Person

There is a close relationship between financial help for carers and benefits for the disabled person they are caring for. Important benefits for the disabled person are usually:

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance

Disability Living Allowance is for claims made before the disabled person’s 65 th birthday.

After their 65 th birthday, they can only claim Attendance Allowance.

Disability Living Allowance has two components: the mobility component at two rates and the care component at three rates. The disabled person can receive any rate of the mobility component plus any rate of the care component. Attendance Allowance has just two rates which are the equivalent of the middle and highest rates of DLA care component.

The care component of Disability Living Allowance can be paid for disabled children from 3 months old. The mobility component can only be paid for a child from 3 years old (higher rate) or from 5 years old (lower rate).

Both DLA and Attendance Allowance are benefits for the disabled person. However for a carer to claim financial help as a carer, the disabled person usually has to be receiving either Attendance Allowance or the middle or highest rates of DLA care component.

There is no reason why a disabled person, receiving Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance cannot also be a carer for another disabled person and claim financial help as a carer. For instance a couple who are both disabled will often be caring for each other, they may both be able to claim as carers.

For more information about disability benefits, contact:

Wirral Welfare Rights Unit.

Tel: 0151 666 4570 between 9.30 and 12.30 or between 2 and 4 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

In person: call in at the Conway Building One Stop Shop on Conway St in Birkenhead (opposite Argos), between 9.30 and 12.30, or between 2 and 4 on Mondays Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Post: Wirral Welfare Rights Unit, Social Services, FREEPOST, Birkenhead CH41 1AB

e-mail: wbau.sservices@wirral.gov.uk

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PLEASE NOTE: This information is correct at time of printing