Employment – Benefits

Getting back into employment – Benefits

If you are no longer caring, your entitlement to Carer’s Allowance will stop and you will need to find out about which other benefit(s) you can claim. You may also have to think about returning to work. Help is available and it is important to seek advice about what to do next.

If you are thinking of combining work and care, you may be able to do this and continue to claim some benefits. Carer’s Allowance can be paid to working carers as long as you earn no more than the earning’s limit (after certain deductions). You may be able to claim other benefits such as Working Tax Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. You may also be entitled to extra help when you start work, eg Job Grant, Extended Payments of Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit.

If you are thinking about returning to work or changing your hours, ask your local advice centre or Jobcentre Plus for a better off calculation so that you know how starting work will affect your income, and that you claim all the help you can.

If you are not sure which benefits you could claim or what help you can get to help you find work, call Carers UK’s Adviceline on 0808 808 7777 or go to your local advice centre.

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