Support and benefits

There is a range of support and benefits available to you as a carer.  

The extra help could prove crucial in your caring role.  

Extra support 

You can access the following support easily without needing a carers assessment:  

Technology Enabled Care 

Technology Enabled Care (TEC) is technology and supporting services that help you to stay independent or get help in an emergency. 

Devices such as personal alarms and sensors for your home are linked to a 24/7 response centre. 

You must be a Lancashire resident aged over 18 to get TEC. 

You don't need to be receiving any health or social care help and you do not need to have had a social care assessment. 

For more information, visit our TEC website.  

Advice about equipment to make daily living easier 

AskSARA can help you find useful information about products and equipment to make daily living activities easier. 

Using AskSARA you can: 

• get advice on daily living activities without needing a formal assessment 

• make equipment choices based on your needs 

• find where to look for products or equipment 

To find out more, visit the AskSARA website.  

Community support 

There are dozens of voluntary, community, faith and enterprise groups across Lancashire who could provide vital support for you and the person you care for.  

To find out more about the support available in your area, contact our adult services team on 0300 123 6720.  

Financial support  

Here are some of the government benefits that could help you in your caring role. 

Carer's Allowance  

You could get £81.90 a week if you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. You must be earning below £151 per week.  

To find out more, visit the Carer's Allowance page at gov.uk. 

Carer's Credit  

If you're caring for someone for at least 20 hours per week, you could receive carer's credit. Carer's Credit is a national insurance credit that helps with gaps in the carer's national insurance record. It means that if you take on extra caring responsibilities, it does not affect your ability to qualify for the state pension.  

To get carer's credit, you must be aged 16 or over, under state pension age, looking after one or more people for at least 20 hours per week and the person/people you are supporting must get certain benefits.  

For further details and to apply, please follow this link: Carer's Credit: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)   

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It’s paid monthly.  

You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work. 

Find out more, visit the universal credit page at the gov.uk website.  

Pension Credit  

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income.  

Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges. 

To find out more, visit the pension credit page on gov.uk. 

Our welfare rights service 

For more advice about benefits available for carers, contact our Welfare Rights Service.  

To find out about our full range of adult social care support, visit our adult social care webpage.