Half of UK's carers may not be claiming benefits they deserve

Half of the carers supporting a disabled, ill or older person in the UK, may be missing out on the financial support they are entitled to according to the charity Carers UK.

Too many of the UK’s 6.5m unpaid carers could be missing out benefits such as the Carer’s Allowance, the charity’s survey of almost 5,000 carers reveals.

The Government offers a Carer’s Allowance of £62.10 a week to individuals who look after those with major caring needs but a total of £1.1bn of this allowance goes unclaimed by carers every year.

To claim this allowance, carers do not have to be related to or live with the person they care for but must be 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for them.

A Government report from the Department for Work and Pensions has found that 95 per cent of carers who are entitled to Carer’s Credit, which provides National Insurance contributions for those who have taken time out from work to care, are not claiming it.

The charity’s survey of 4,572 carers (conducted between February-April this year), reveals half of carers who provide 35 hours or more care a week, have not had a Carer’s Assessment from their local authority.

Under the Care Act 2014, all carers in England are entitled to a Carer’s Assessment, regardless of the amount or type of care they provide or their financial means. The Scotland (Carers) Bill is hoping to achieve this aim as it goes through Parliament and in Wales the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 will put a duty on local authorities to meet any carer’s need identified during their assessment from April 2016.

Every year, 2.1m people become carers in the UK. To raise awareness amongst the UK’s unpaid carers of the benefits they should be claiming, the charity has published Upfront, an online guide with financial tips for new carers.

The Upfront guide has been published today to coincide with Carers Rights Day. The charity is also publishing its annual Carers Rights guide which gives more detailed information about their rights.

Carers UK believes this support will help carers 'navigate a confusing system’.

Heléna Herklots, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “When people take on a new caring role, they worryingly tell us that it can be really difficult to get the help and advice they need. Without this support, caring can take a serious toll on a person’s health, finances and wellbeing.

“This Carers Rights Day, you can make a positive difference to the life of a carer by connecting them to Carers UK”.

George McNamara, head of policy at Alzheimer’s Society, said: “Unpaid carers are picking up the pieces of a creaking system that still views them as an afterthought.

"Caring for a person who is ill or elderly can be incredibly demanding so it’s vital that these people are respected, supported and given access to the information that they are entitled to.”

Dementia costs the UK economy over £26bn each year -the equivalent of more than £30,000 per person with dementia. The UK has 670,000 carers of people with dementia.

Mr McNamara said: “They save the government a staggering £11.6bn, so it’s alarming that £1.1bn they are entitled to in benefits goes unclaimed every year.”