What financial help can carers access?

Caring for someone living with dementia isn’t just emotionally demanding—it can also place an immense financial strain on families. From lost income to navigating complex care systems, carers often find themselves shouldering significant financial burdens.

The good news? There is support out there. Here’s what carers need to know about the financial help available—and how attending one of our information sessions could make a huge difference.

1. Understanding Benefits for People Living with Dementia

• Attendance Allowance: A tax-free benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care. It can be worth up to £110.40/week.
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP) may apply if the person with dementia is under State Pension age.
• These benefits are not means-tested and can help cover extra care costs at home or contribute toward paid support.

2. Financial Support for Carers

• Carer’s Allowance: If you care for someone at least 35 hours a week, you may be entitled to £81.90/week (2025 rate)
• Even if your income is too high to receive the full allowance, it may still qualify you for Carer’s Premiums in other benefits.
• Pension Credit top-up: For older carers, this can provide essential extra income.
• Carer's Leave Act 2023: Entitles employees to take one week of unpaid leave per year to fulfill their caring responsibilities.
  
  

3. CHC Funding – What It Is, and Why You Should Know About It

NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is a little-known but potentially game-changing form of funding.
If your loved one’s care needs are primarily health-related (rather than social care), they may be eligible for fully funded care from the NHS—covering residential fees, home care, and even specialist nursing costs.

However, CHC can be complicated to understand and challenging to access without the right information.

That’s why we strongly recommend attending one of our Information Sharing Sessions.

At www.dementia-experience.com, we host sessions specifically focused on CHC funding—what it is, who qualifies, how to apply, and what to do if your application is rejected.

You’ll learn about:

• The difference between health vs. social care needs
• The CHC checklist and full assessment process
• Tips for successful applications and appeals
• What to expect in multidisciplinary meetings
  
  

These sessions are empowering and often eye-opening for families who didn’t realize they could access fully funded care.

4. Help with Everyday Care Costs

• Local authority support: If the person with dementia has less than £23,250 in savings (England), they may qualify for support with care home or at-home care fees.
• Free personal care in Scotland, and higher savings thresholds in Wales (£50,000) also apply.
• Shared Lives schemes and respite services can also provide affordable, supported living options.
  
  

5. Banking & Legal Tools for Peace of Mind

• Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA): Vital for managing finances and healthcare decisions once capacity is lost. We strongly recommend setting this up early.
• Free Will Service: At Dementia Experience, we’ve partnered with Squiggle Consult to offer a free will-writing service—helping you plan ahead with clarity and confidence.
• Dementia-friendly banking tools (like Sibstar cards): Let carers control spending, limit transactions, and receive alerts to prevent financial abuse or overspending.
  
  

6. Discounts, Rebates & Everyday Savings

• Carer’s Card: Access discounts on dining, shopping, travel, and more—saving the average carer around £240 a year.
• Council tax reductions: If the person with dementia qualifies for the “severely mentally impaired” (SMI) exemption, they may receive a council tax discount—or even a full exemption.
• Energy & water bill help: Carers can apply for priority services or cost-cutting schemes from utility companies.
  
  

7. Support from Charities and Community Groups

• Dementia UK: Offers specialist advice via Admiral Nurses.
• Carers UK: Provides helplines and benefit calculators.
• Marie Curie and Age UK: Offer additional support for carers of those nearing end-of-life stages.
  
  

What to Do Next

1. Book a place at our CHC Information Sharing Session – this is the single most important step if you’re unsure whether full NHS funding might be an option.
2. Request a care needs assessment through your local authority.
3. Apply for Attendance Allowance or Carer’s Allowance as applicable.
4. Set up an LPA and consider your Will.
5. Explore free banking and legal tools via our recommended partners.
6. Use discounts and support schemes to reduce everyday expenses.     

You don’t have to navigate dementia care finances alone. With the right knowledge and support—from benefits to CHC funding—you can ease the burden and access resources that protect both your loved one’s wellbeing and your own. Our CHC-focused information sessions can be the key to accessing thousands of pounds in funding that many carers don’t even realise exists.