Are you Missing Out on Vital Funds?
More than seven million UK households could be missing out on benefits like council tax discounts, according to analysis from online benefits calculator Entitledto. Benefits and other government support are not just for those who are out of work. Millions of households on low incomes are also losing out.

Many benefits and discounts aren’t granted automatically; depending on what you’re eligible for, you’ll need to apply to your local council or HMRC. Don’t miss out on money that you are entitled to, subscribe to our Carer Friendly Updates to access our FREE Benefits Calculator!

The cost-of-living crisis is affecting most of the country especially if you are unable to work because you or a family member has a disability or long-term illness. Ensuring that you check that you are receiving all the state benefits that you are entitled to is a must.

This is exactly what Mrs X did. Mrs X is a full time Carer for her child who has additional needs. She used Forward Carers’ new Benefits Calculator to input her details including her net income, housing costs, council tax and so on, and was amazed at the results. Here is a breakdown of the benefits that Mrs X is entitled to:

Universal Credit£398.34 per week
Carer’s Allowance£69.70 per week
Council Tax Support£13.61 per week
Child Benefit£36.25 per week

Here’s How a Carer’s Income Increased over £500 a Week

Mrs X discovered she was entitled to an estimated £517.90 per week, just by spending 15 minutes completing the online form. In addition, a pdf report was emailed to her with other entitlements she might qualify for, such as: free school meals, free Prescriptions and eye tests, NHS low income scheme, heating help for private tenants, home improvements grants, discretionary housing payment, Carer’s credit and cold weather payments. What’s more, as English is not Mrs X’s first language, she was able to complete the form in her own language so it was a lot easier for her to understand and quickly complete.

How to Access Forward Carers Benefits Calculator
To access the Benefits Calculator as well as a range of other free online Carer support resources, just add your name and email address here.

The information you give in the Benefits Calculator is kept confidential and is anonymous, it doesn’t collect any personally identifiable information, unless you choose to submit it. You will be given instructions on how to go about making a claim to any benefits that have been highlighted that you are entitled to.

Cost of Living and Carers
While certain household savings can be made here and there, e.g. use a microwave instead of an oven, there are certain things Carers cannot scrape on. Due to the person’s condition, they may need to be kept very warm, they need to be washed in warm water several times a day or eat particular foods that cannot be scrimped on. As one Carer said in Carers UK recent report Heading for crisis: Caught between caring and rising costs:

“There are some things as a family we can cut back on but I cannot choose to stop powering the vital equipment that keeps my loved one alive.”

The current economic climate and the crippling effect that this has on Carers makes it imperative that they are claiming all of the help and welfare benefits that they are entitled to. Don’t miss out on extra cash that you are entitled to, subscribe to our Carer Friendly Updates to access our FREE Benefits Calculator today!