Free guide · England

Benefits and financial help

Prepare for a benefits check and find help without assuming which payments you will receive.

Sources checked 2 October 2026 · General information, with links to advice for your circumstances.

Read at your own pace

Two people looking at money and paperwork together.

Part 1 of 5

Check the whole situation

Caring can affect income, working hours and household costs. Start with a benefits check covering both the person needing support and the carer. GOV.UK links to free, independent calculators, but their results are estimates and some circumstances need individual advice. A diagnosis or caring role alone does not establish entitlement. Ask a welfare-rights adviser or local advice service to look at the full circumstances.

Your next step: Write down the questions you want answered before making a new claim.

A calculator and paperwork ready for financial planning.

Part 2 of 5

Know which support to ask about

For someone of State Pension age with care or supervision needs, ask whether Attendance Allowance may apply; they do not need to have a carer already. Personal Independence Payment can help eligible people with extra costs linked to daily living or mobility difficulties. Pension Credit may help people over State Pension age on a low income. These have different rules. Ask an adviser which route fits the person’s age, needs, finances and existing benefits, rather than trying to claim everything.

Your next step: Take the official benefit pages to your advice appointment and ask which are relevant.

A calculator, notebook and laptop on a desk.

Part 3 of 5

Have the right information ready

Gather current benefit letters, earnings, pensions, savings, rent or mortgage details and relevant household information. Record the care or supervision needed, including needs that vary. A calculator is only as useful as the information entered. If the person struggles with forms, ask for accessible help. Keep private financial information secure and use the official links rather than sending documents to an unverified service.

Your next step: Make a folder of current figures and letters for the advice appointment.

Two women looking through paperwork together.

Part 4 of 5

Check effects before claiming as a carer

Carer’s Allowance can affect benefits received by both you and the person you support. For example, it can affect certain severe disability additions, and it is taken into account in Universal Credit. Do not assume every new payment simply adds to existing income. Ask for a calculation of the overall effect before claiming, especially if either person receives means-tested benefits or a pension.

Your next step: Ask: “What changes for each of us if this claim succeeds?”

A woman making a phone call with a notebook beside her.

Part 5 of 5

Get help with decisions and changes

Use GOV.UK to check current eligibility, how to claim and which changes must be reported. If a decision seems wrong, read the letter promptly and ask an adviser about the challenge route and deadline for that benefit. Keep copies of forms and evidence and note when you contacted the service. Ask about wider support too, such as local help with costs. Avoid relying on an old payment figure or another family’s award.

Your next step: Choose one advice service to contact and note the date for following up.

Your next-steps checklist

Print this page, or choose “Save as PDF” in your print options. Your notes stay with you.

Have both the cared-for person and carer had a benefits check?
Are income and household figures current?
Have we described variable and overnight needs?
Could a new claim reduce someone else’s payments?
Are there decision or reporting deadlines?
Who can help us check the forms?

My next step: ____________________________________

Who will help, and when: ____________________________

Sources and further help

Based on the published guidance below. Last checked 2 October 2026. Applies to England. These organisations have not endorsed or approved this Pheon Academy guide.

For a decision about your own care, finances or legal documents, use these services to find appropriate individual advice. Official pages carry current fees, eligibility details and contact information.

Explore the other free guides →