Understanding Your Benefit Entitlements

Our partners, home care experts Helping Hands, run through the three main benefit entitlements that may be available to your loved ones when considering home care

When considering care for your loved one, the first stage is to ensure that you have explored all state benefit entitlements that may be available to you. Whilst we shall look at the three main benefits, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Continuing Healthcare (CHC) funding, it is important to stress that depending on your loved one's circumstances and needs, there may be other benefits which they could be entitled to.

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit payable to those State Pension age or older, and those who need help with personal care due to physical or mental disability. It is the largest unclaimed benefit in the UK and is not means-tested, and it can be paid at two different rates: £68.10 or £101.75 per week, but it does not cover mobility needs.

Applying for Attendance Allowance is straightforward; you can either get a claim form by calling the benefit enquiry line on 0800 88 22 00 (textphone: 0800 24 33 55) or download a form or start a claim online: www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance 

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA), and is a financial benefit that can help with extra costs if you have a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition.

To be eligible, you must:

• You’re 16 or over
• You have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
• You have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around
• You expect the difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they started

You must also be under State Pension age if you’ve not received PIP before.

To find out more about PIP, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/pip

Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Funding

Some adults with long-term complex health conditions can qualify for free social care that is arranged and funded by the NHS, which can be provided towards care at home for your loved one.

CHC is available for adults, and to be eligible you will be assessed by a team of healthcare professionals who will look at the support that's required, as well as the complexity, intensity and unpredictability of your loved one's care needs. Your eligibility for CHC funding depends on the assessed needs, and not on any particular diagnosis or condition.

Find out more about CHC funding

One More Thing...

Also, did you know that if you are a carer of a friend or family member, you could get Carer's Allowance if your loved one has substantial caring needs? This can be up to £76.75 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and you do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.* 

* This information was accurate at the time of print. For the most up-to-date information, please visit www.gov.uk/browse/benefits

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Helping Hands 

With 30 years' experience providing individually tailored home care across England and Wales, Helping Hands offer expert support at home ranging from 30-minute visits up to full-time live-in care. If you need fast-response support, Helping Hands can often begin your bespoke care plan within 24 hours of your initial enquiry.

For more information, please call 0808 163 9755 or visit www.helpinghands.co.uk

The information in this article was correct at the time of publication. We regularly fact-check all our content but please note that data, links and advice may change in between reviews.