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Carer and Disability Benefits
What carer or disability benefits are you entitled to?
For confidential advice about benefits that you may be entitled to, as an elderly and/or disabled person or a carer, there is a freephone number to call, the Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL) 0800 169 0310; textphone 0800 169 0314.
The person taking your call will not have your personal papers but will be able to give you general advice. This advice shouldn’t be taken as a decision on any matter about which you are making an enquiry.
Most working age benefits are now subject to a benefits cap.
People receiving disability benefits such as DLA and PIP are exempt from the cap. You can read more details of how it is applied here.
Here is a general summary of benefits of particular relevance to carers, older and/or disabled people:
Click the name of the benefit to get full details.
Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only)
Direct Payments – Personal Budgets
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for a person aged 16 or over
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for a child under 16
Employment and Support Allowance
Funeral Support Payment (Scotland)
Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme
Home Responsibilities Protection
Individual Budgets – Self-Directed Support
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (accidents)
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (diseases and deafness)
Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) – Scotland
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP) – Scotland
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Self-Directed Support (Individual Budgets)
Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA)
Temporary stays in a residential care or nursing home
A Guide to Scottish Disability Benefits
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4 Replies to “Carer and Disability Benefits”
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Hi. I’ve been claiming Carers Allowance for years as I care for my Adult daughter also I’ve been working and I’ve been sent a letter stating I’ve been paid more Carers allowance than I’m entitled to as I will be appealing this decision am I allowed to claim expenses for dropping my daughter at a day Center before I go to work and also picking her up on the way home ? Also for my job I need a smart phone to use as I do all my work on this can I claim for this?
Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated.
Hello Kirsty
There are some expenses you can claim, including what you are paying in replacement care costs for your daughter while you are at work. However, I do not think that the cost of taking her there and picking her up would be included, unfortunately. You can claim for travel expenses in the course of your work, if they are not covered by your employer, but not for commuting to your usual place of work.
Other allowable expenses include 50% of pension contributions and equipment needed to do your job, such as specialist clothing. If you wanted to claim for a smart phone, you would need to be able to show that it was only used for your job.
Best wishes,
Frances
I have hip and neck arthritis.
I getting AA for myself and my husband.
I look after my son who has a Learning disability.
I am 76 and have NEVER been able to get carers allowance for this.
My husband has dementia. Can carers allowance be backdated?
Hello Vivienne
Unfortunately, you can’t get Carer’s Allowance in addition to a state pension. But I do recommend that you use a benefit checker to make sure you are claiming everything you are entitled to, including pension credit, if your income is modest. There is a good one here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/benefits-calculator/ (external link will open in a new browser tab or window)
Best wishes,
Frances