Cost of living survey
Help us improve the cost of living support in Barking and Dagenham by taking part in our survey. Your feedback is invaluable in enhancing the support we offer!
Carers benefits
As a carer, you may be entitled to one or more state benefits to help you with the costs.
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Carer's Allowance
A Carer's Allowance is the main state benefit for carers. It is a weekly amount of money. You can get this if you look after someone for more than 35 hours a week.
If you get more than this a week from some other benefits, you will not be able to get Carer's Allowance. But it's still worth applying as you may have what's called an underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance. This can help increase other benefits you're getting.
Carer's Credit
Carer's Credit is a National Insurance (NI) contribution to help make sure you don't lose out on some social security benefits, such as the State Pension, because of gaps in your NI record.
You can get this credit if you look after someone for more than 20 hours a week and you don't get Carer's Allowance.
Carer Premium
Carer's Premium is an allowance you get on top of some benefits, such as Income Support or Housing Benefit.
Ask about it at your local Jobcentre Plus.
Disability Living Allowance for children
If you are the parent or carer of a disabled child you can get a disability living allowance.
Claim Disability Living Allowance for children
Check what benefits you can get
Check if you're entitled to the Carer's Allowance and other benefits by using the benefits calculator.
Use the entitled to benefits calculator.
Get a carer's assessment
As a carer, you may be eligible for support from adult social care at the council. The first step to find this out is to get a carer assessment, which is a discussion with you that will help adult social care understand what help and support you might need on a day to day basis
Get help and advice
Get expert benefits advice, plus help filling in claim forms, from: