Grants for Carers

It has been estimated that one household in every six contains a Carer.  Most people who are Carers won't recognise themselves as such because they live with the person they are caring for.  Other may think they can't be Carers because they live apart from the person they support.  It doesn't matter whether you are a wife, partner, husband, parent or friend, if you devote sustantial amounts of time to supporting someone you are a Carer.

As a Carer you may be eligible for one off grants to help towards the costs of things like a holiday with the person you care for (if you have not had one for several years), taking a short break or help with buying a specialist piece of equipment or a warn out domestic appliance. 

Eligibility is based on your caring situation, details of your income and expenditure are required, but any award does not affect your welfare benefits.

The application process itself is quick and simple, the applications are written and sent to the relevant Trusts where they are looked at by a small panel of people.  Decisions normally take a few weeks, in exceptional cases they could be dealt within a few days although there are never any guarantees, what do you have to lose?

If you are a Carer, and would like to apply for a grant then we would like to hear from you.  Just ring Helen Wilson at the Carers' Support Centre on 01652 650585.