Whether it’s full or part time, there is help available to help ease the strain slightly.
There are three types of benefits available to those who care for someone.
Carers’ allowance
You may be eligible for this if you’re out of work and caring for somebody.
Benefits to help with extra costs
If you are elderly or ill yourself but still care for someone, you could claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
You could also be entitled to child benefit if you have children, and if your child is disabled then you can claim disability living allowance for them until they are 16.
Means-tested benefits
These are also known as ’top-up’ benefits as they are in addition to your income.
You could be eligible for income support, income-related employment and support allowance, income-based jobseeker’s allowance and pension credit.
If you are entitled to more than one of these then contact your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau to find out which one will be most beneficial to you.
Additional means-tested benefits
If you are able to claim means-tested benefits then you may also be eligible for housing benefit and cold weather payment.
For more information about all of the above, click here.