An estimated 950,000 people and families across the UK benefit from home care services, with a large proportion being older adults. They may require help with personal care such as washing, assistance with cleaning and cooking, or simply want companionship and support getting out and about.
For many, the number of potential income support schemes and benefits feels like a minefield, with uncertainty about whether receiving either council-funded or privately financed care impacts their eligibility, and the types of benefits they might be entitled to in either scenario.
Guardian Angel Carers, a highly regarded nationwide network of home-care franchises, has compiled guidance and advice to clarify the confusion and ensure that every family caring for a much-loved older relative has all the help they need.
General Advice Around Benefits for Adults Receiving Care at Home
Families are often eligible for varied benefits to assist with the costs of protecting the welfare and safety of older adults. Still, a lack of clear information can mean they assume they aren’t entitled or simply don’t have the resources to manage online application processes.
There are also issues surrounding means-tested benefits, with a general reluctance to share private and sensitive information about incomes, pensions, and the value of houses – all of which can, unfortunately, be required to assess whether a person falls into a lower income category.
All this aside, receiving home care, regardless of whether you pay for this privately or have some or all of those costs covered by your local council, should not impact your entitlement to benefits.
Although local authorities assess incomes and savings to work out whether they can contribute to or provide fully funded home care, this doesn’t affect other benefits, nor will applying for financially supported care mean you’re then unable to continue receiving your current benefits.
It’s worth noting that if you are concerned or struggle to manage the often lengthy application processes, there are organisations available to assist. The Citizens Advice Bureau and charities like Age UK can help with completing claim forms and other administrative tasks on request.
Benefits Available to Older People Reliant on Home Care Services
One of the most relevant financial assistance programmes is the Attendance Allowance. It offers support to people with disabilities, health conditions, or physical mobility limitations that require assistance with their day-to-day lives.
Those who are eligible for the Attendance Allowance may realise this means they are also entitled to Housing Benefit, reduced council tax rates or Pension Credit – although it’s best to review the criteria in detail to check if this applies to you.
The Attendance Allowance isn’t taxed and isn’t means-tested. Although the idea is to use the income to help with the costs of support, from a cleaner or carer to a gardener, it’s also not ring-fenced, and you can choose to spend this however you like.
While many use Attendance Allowances to cover home care costs if they aren’t eligible for council-funded care or prefer to make their own arrangements with a private provider, this isn’t mandatory in any way.
Currently, the allowance is paid at two rates: either £73.90 or £110.40 per week, depending on the extent of your care needs.
Pension Credit for Low-Income Adults at or Above State Pension Age
Pension Credit is designed to assist adults with the costs of living if they have reached State Pension age and have a low income. Like the Attendance Allowance, this is split into two rates, with a ‘Guarantee Credit’ that can top up your income to £227.10 a week or £346.60 for a couple if your current income is below either figure.
The second element of Pension Credit is called the Savings Credit, which is available to adults who reached State Pension age before April 2016, and pays an extra £17.30 or £19.36 a week to individuals and couples, respectively.
This benefit is, however, means-tested, and you will be asked to provide information about your income and savings to see if you qualify. You can lose your entitlement if you are already claiming and move into a home with a person under State Pension age.
A positive aspect of claiming Pension Credit is that, if you are entitled, this also qualifies you for the Winter Fuel Payment. Following controversial reforms due to be revised for next winter, many older adults suddenly found last year that they stopped receiving the latter, purely because they hadn’t applied for Pension Credit, even if they were fully eligible.
Understanding the Benefits You May Be Able to Claim to Help With Home Care
Attendance Allowance is the main benefit that contributes towards home care, but many people may not realise that a family member who cares for them for 35 hours or more a week, even if they are using professional carers to enable them to take breaks or work, could also claim the Carer’s Allowance.
Although there is an earnings limit, this benefit isn’t means-tested, and the carer doesn’t necessarily need to live permanently with the person they’re looking after or be related to them; their savings are also not taken into account.
Carers who support a person who is receiving Attendance Allowance (or alternative benefits for younger adults), and who earn no more than £196 per week after deductions, can claim £83.30 a week.
This is something we recognise that a large proportion of partners and children who spend significant amounts of their time caring for a loved one are entitled to but do not claim.
Independent Help Organising Affordable At-Home Care Support
We hope this guide has shed some light on just a few of the benefits you may be able to claim and cleared up the common misconceptions about what organising care might mean to your income, or how means testing might impact your entitlements.
As always, if you’d like further information about putting the right care in place, organising affordable and flexible visiting care to safeguard the wellbeing of an older relative, or want to chat through all the options, you are welcome to contact your nearest Guardian Angel Carers team.
