Financial Issues

When the person you care for dies or goes into residential care, your income is likely to be affected. Benefits paid to you because of your caring role will stop and you will need to look at what other benefits you can claim instead. It is important to let the Carers Allowance Unit and other relevant benefit offices know that your caring role has ended.

If the person you care for moves into residential care paid for by social services, the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) care component/Attendance Allowance will stop being paid once they have lived in the care home for 28 days. The mobility component of DLA can continue to be paid. IF care is provided by the NHS, both parts of DLA will stop after 28 days.

Carer's Allowance and Carer premium/addition

Once the person you care for stops getting DLA or Attendance Allowance your Carer’s Allowance will usually continue to be paid to you for 8 weeks as will a Carer premium or addition included in the calculation of means-tested benefits e.g. Income Support, Pension Credit.

Bereavement Benefits

If you were caring for your husband, wife or civil partner, you may be entitled to bereavement benefits. To get any of the bereavement benefits, your husband, wife or civil partner must have paid enough National Insurance contributions or have died as a result of an industrial accident or industrial disease. Other criteria for claiming bereavement benefits vary, so seek advice.

Bereavement Payment
is a one-off, lump sum payment of £2000 that is tax free.
Widowed Parent's Allowance
is a weekly payment for those with responsibility for an eligible child or for widows or civil partners who are pregnant
Bereavement Allowance
is a weekly benefit, payable for up to 52 weeks, for those aged over 45 (and under pension age) when their husband, wife or civil partner died.

You cannot be paid both Widowed Parent's Allowance and Bereavement Allowance at the same time. A Bereavement Payment can be paid in addition to Widowed Parent's Allowance or Bereavement Allowance

Other benefits

If you have a low income once your Carer's benefits stop, you may be able to claim means tested benefit:

Income Support - for people aged under 60 who do not have to look for work eg single parents, those who are unable to work because of illness/disability
Jobseeker's Allowance - for people aged under 60 who are available for and actively seeking work. It is important to sign on if you want to continue to get National Insurance Contribution Credits
Pension Credit - for people aged 60 or over
Housing Benefit - help to pay the rent
Council Tax Benefit - help to pay your council tax

If you were getting a council tax discount because of your caring responsibilities, remember to let your local council know that your caring responsibilities have ended. If you are living alone you may still be entitled to a single occupant's discount (25%) on your bill.

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