Financial support for carers
The financial impact of caring for someone with MS can be huge. There is help out there from public services and other sources, including the MS Society.
This page covers some of the financial help and support available to carers around the UK:
- Carer’s assessments
- Carer's allowance
- Direct payments
- The Carer’s Opportunities Fund
- The Young Carers Fund
Carer’s assessments
You are classed as a ‘carer’ if you look after a family member or friend who needs support to live at home. Your local council Social Services Department may be able to help make things easier for you both practically and financially.
To work out how they can help you, social services carry out a carers’ assessment. They will ask you about:
- the help the person you care for needs
- the help you are giving at the moment
- the services your council may provide
Your carer’s assessment is your opportunity to tell social services about the things that could make caring easier for you.
Here are some things you may want to think about before the assessment:
- do you get enough sleep?
- is your health affected?
- are you able to get out and about?
- do you get any time for yourself?
- are your other relationships affected?
- do you want information about benefits?
- are you worried you may have to give up work?
- is the person you care for getting enough help?
Contact your local council's social services department for more information. If you live in Scotland, get in touch with Social Work Departments and Services for more information.
Carer's Allowance
This is a benefit for people who regularly spend 35 hours or more a week caring for a disabled person. It is paid to the carer and not the person with MS.
Only one person can receive Carer’s Allowance for looking after an individual.
Carer’s Allowance is not means tested and does not depend on past National Insurance contributions. Carers can get Carer’s Allowance even if they’ve never worked. However, you do have to pay tax on Carer’s Allowance.
As a carer, you can have a break in caring of up to 4 weeks (or 12 weeks if either you or your carer go into hospital) within any 26-week period without Carer’s Allowance being affected.
Visit our benefits section on this site for more information on carers allowance including...
- Who is eligible?
- How much is awarded?
- How does it work with other benefits?
- How to make a claim
- Information on other grants and benefits available from public services.
Direct Payments for carers
The majority of direct payments are paid to a disabled person to pay for care. However in some cases carers might be able to get a payment to buy services that help you.
Guidance given to local councils suggests that they can give carers direct payments for any purpose which helps them to sustain their role as a carer, and promotes their own health and well being. Direct Payments for carers are not available in Scotland.
Find out more about direct payments for carers on the Carers UK website.
Carers Opportunities Fund
If you are a carer and are considering going back to education or employment, you may be able to get help from the MS Society's Carers Opportunity Fund, which gives grants of up to £400 for such things as non-graduate course fees, course books, materials and travel costs.
For more information or to apply download an application form and supporting letter or contact the MS Society grants team on 020 8438 0700.
Young Carers Fund
The Young Carers Fund recognises the support provided by so many young people to relatives and loved ones who have MS and gives young carers the chance to fulfil personal goals or wishes.
Many young people take on caring responsibilities to help the family cope with the challenges that MS brings.
For some, these responsibilities will increase to such a level that they cannot take part in many of the everyday activities of childhood such as going on school trips.
For more information or to apply download an application form or contact the MS Society grants team on 020 8438 0700.
