Financial support for carers

Carers play a vital role in the community. In recognition of this, many governments and charitable organizations offer financial support and services to people who care for someone with a disability or mental illness, a medical condition, someone recovering from an illness or accident, or an older person with care needs. Support is often also available to carers of people with a terminal, life-limiting illness.

What is offered, and who qualifies, varies a great deal from country to country and even from region to region. The sections below describe the broad types of support that commonly exist, so you know what to look for. To find out exactly what is available where you live, contact your local government social-security or benefits service, or a carer support or disability organization.

Types of financial support for carers#

Some carer support is provided as direct payments, while other support takes the form of discounts, concessions or subsidies to help pay for necessary aids, equipment or services. Common forms of support include:

• Income support payments for people who cannot work in substantial paid employment because they provide full-time daily care. These are often based on a means test that looks at your income and assets.
• Carer allowances for people who provide extra daily care to someone with a disability, a medical condition or an older person with care needs. These are sometimes not means-tested and may be paid in addition to wages or other payments.
• Supplements or lump-sum payments that help with the ongoing costs of caring, sometimes paid automatically to people already receiving a carer payment.
• One-off payments to help families cope with the sudden, increased costs of caring for a child who has become severely ill or disabled after an accident or other catastrophic event. These usually have time limits for making a claim.
• Education support to help carers, or the people they care for, with the costs of full-time or part-time study.

Help with health costs, equipment and bills#

Beyond direct payments, support may be available to ease the everyday costs of caring, such as:

• subsidies to help pay for products and aids needed for ongoing conditions, for example incontinence products
• help with home energy costs where someone relies on essential, medically required equipment at home
• subsidized aids, equipment and home or vehicle modifications, such as mobility aids, hoists, beds, commodes, continence aids, home oxygen and communication devices

Where a subsidy does not cover the full cost of an item, you may need to contribute part of the cost yourself.

Flexible support packages and respite#

Some programs provide flexible funding packages that a person can use to buy the disability-related supports they choose to help them meet their goals. This funding can complement the informal support already provided by family and friends, as well as services available in the community.

Other programs focus on carers directly, offering respite and other flexible, person-centred support, including help for older carers and for those caring for a person with dementia. Most support arrangements allow for periods of respite for the carer, and make allowances for times when the person being cared for is in hospital.

Concessions, discount cards and transport#

In many places, concessions and discounts are available to carers, or to the people they care for, often linked to holding an eligible concession card. These can include:

• discounts on utilities such as electricity, gas and water, and on local government charges
• carer discount cards offering benefits from businesses, local government and community organizations
• companion ticketing schemes, which allow a person with a significant, permanent disability to bring an attendant carer to events and venues at no extra charge
• subsidized taxi or transport schemes for people who cannot use public transport safely and independently

Keeping your support up to date#

If you receive a benefit, it is important to tell the relevant department when your circumstances change. If your caring role increases, you may be entitled to more support; if it decreases, you could be overpaid and have to repay the difference. Many systems require you to report changes within a set time, so check the rules that apply to you.

If the person you care for dies, you may be entitled to a bereavement payment, and you should contact the relevant department for a review of your financial circumstances.

Key points#

• A range of financial support may be available to carers, including direct payments, allowances, supplements and one-off payments.
• Other help can cover health products, essential equipment, home modifications and energy costs.
• Concession cards, discounts, companion ticketing and subsidized transport schemes may also be available.
• What you can get, and the eligibility rules, vary by country and region, so check what is offered where you live.
• Report any change in your circumstances promptly to avoid being underpaid or overpaid.

Where to get help#