Benefits / financial matters
Below are a series of links that will help you and the person that you care for receive financial help and support.
Carer’s allowance
Carer's allowance is a taxable benefit for carers worth £53.90 a week from the Department for Work and Pensions. You may get extra for your spouse or civil partner, or for your partner if he/she cares for your children.
Energy saving grants and loans
The UK Government funds energy saving grants and loan schemes providing up to £3,500 to households on certain benefits to improve their heating and energy efficiency. In England the scheme is known as Warm Front, in Northern Ireland it is Warm Homes, in Scotland it is the Energy Assistance Package and in Wales it is the Home Energy Efficiency Scheme.
Self Directed Support
If you are eligible for services “Durham County Council is committed to the principles of personalisation”.
If you are eligible for care and support services under Self Directed Support you will have the chance to complete you own Self Directed Support Questionnaire, with support available of required.
Self Directed Support is about making social care services more personalised to you and giving you more choice and control of your own care or support arrangements. This gives you independence and flexibility over how your care and support is provided.
It looks at your needs, and with your full involvement, working out how your needs are best met. Provided that you meet certain criteria you may be eligible for care and support and the Council may help towards the cost of this.
This is called a ‘Personal Budget’ and can be used to provide the services you wish to receive, provided they are safe, legal and meet your care and support needs, as shown in your care and support plan.
You have several options available to you to manage your Personal Budget:
The Council can give you Direct Payments to provide the maximum amount of flexibility so you can manage your Personal Budget yourself, with or without support; paying for your own care and support services or employing your own staff. You can choose to receive all or part of your Personal Budget as Direct Payments.
The Council can manage your Personal Budget on your behalf and you will still have some choice and control over the goods and services that you receive. This is called a Virtual Budget.
You can have a mixture of the above and can discuss this with your social worker or care co-ordinator.
There will be help and support available as you decide which options are best for you.
More information can be can be found at www.durham.gov.uk/yourlifeyourchoice
Other forms of financial help, carers may be entitled to
Information on financial help from Carers UK.
Directgov - Money matters
Money matters - Information on caring and finanical matters including Carer's Allowance, Council Tax and Pensions on the Directgov website.
Turn2us
Turn2us is a charitable service which helps people access the money available to them – through welfare benefits, grants and other help.
Welfare Rights
Durham County Council's Welfare Rights service can help with questions and problems on a wide range of benefits and entitlements, such as Social Security and Tax Credits.