A guide for kinship carers about finding childcare for children with disabilities or special educational needs.
Benefits for kinship family members with a disability or long-term illness
Find out which benefits and payments you may qualify for to help you manage financially.
If you are a kinship carer caring for someone with a disability or long-term illness, or disabled yourself, you can claim benefits and payments to help your family manage financially.
The main benefits you can claim from government include:
- New Style Employment and Support Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Universal Credit
- Carer’s Allowance
Depending on your circumstances, you might also be able to get:
- Industrial Injuries Benefit (GOV.UK) if you have a disability or illness that happened as a result of work
- Constant Attendance Allowance (GOV.UK) if you need daily care because of a disability or illness that happened as a result of work
Check GOV.UK for more information about getting financial help with transport, housing and adjustments to your home.
New Style Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
New Style ESA is a benefit you can claim if your disability or long-term illness affects your ability to work. It is a contributory benefit, which means you will only be able to claim it if you have paid enough National Insurance contributions.
To qualify for New Style ESA, you will need to:
- be over 16 years of age
- be under State Pension age
- not be entitled to statutory sick pay, Jobseeker’s Allowance or statutory maternity pay
- not be in work, although some work is considered ‘permitted work’ (GOV.UK)
- have worked as an employee or as self-employed and paid enough National Insurance contributions in the last two full tax years.
- have limited capability for work – you will be assessed under the work capability assessment (GOV.UK)
Claiming New Style ESA with other benefits and while you’re working
When you claim New Style ESA you may be entitled to other benefits, which include:
- Universal Credit
- Personal Independence Payment (GOV.UK)
You may be able to claim New Style ESA and Universal Credit at the same time. If you receive Universal Credit, your payment will be reduced by the amount of ESA you get.
You won’t qualify for New Style ESA if you are receiving Statutory Sick Pay or Jobseeker’s Allowance.
If you’re working, you’ll have to meet certain rules (GOV.UK) to be able to claim New Style ESA.
New Style ESA rates and how to apply
Check New Style ESA guidance on GOV.UK for up-to-date details of current rates and how much you’ll get.
Apply for New Style ESA (GOV.UK)
New Style ESA rates and how to apply
Check New Style ESA guidance on GOV.UK for up-to-date details of current rates and how much you’ll get.
Disability Living Allowance for children
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit paid by the government to help with extra costs of bringing up a disabled child. You can claim DLA if your child is under 16 and:
- has difficulty with their mobility
- needs more care than a non-disabled child of the same age
DLA is made up of two parts – a care part and a mobility part. Your child may be entitled to one or both of these parts depending on their needs. Each part has different rates of pay.
DLA is based on the needs of your child and not their condition or disability. You do not need to have a formal diagnosis to apply.
Special rules apply to children who are terminally ill.
You don’t have to pay tax on DLA. The amount you get isn’t affected by your income or savings. If anyone in your household gets DLA, the benefit cap will not apply to you.
Claim Disability Living Allowance for children (GOV.UK)
People not affected by the benefit cap (GOV.UK)
Disability Living Allowance for adults
Disability Living Allowance for adults has been replaced with Personal Independence Payment (PIP). If you are currently receiving DLA, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will write to you asking you to make a claim for PIP, normally before your DLA claim is due to end. You should complete the claim form within four weeks.
Personal Independence Payment
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit paid by government to help with extra living costs for adults aged 16, but under State Pension age who:
- have a long-term physical disability or mental health condition
- experience difficulty with everyday tasks and mobility
PIP is made up of two parts – a daily living part and a mobility part. How much you get, and whether you get one or both parts of PIP depend on how much your condition affects your mobility and ability to carry out everyday tasks.
The DWP will assess how your condition affects you day to day. You do not need a formal diagnosis to apply. They decide if you qualify for PIP, which parts you’re eligible for, and how much you get.
PIP rates and how to apply
You don’t have to pay tax on PIP. The amount you get isn’t affected by your income or savings. If anyone in your household gets PIP, the benefit cap will not apply to you. Visit GOV.UK to learn about PIP and how much you may get.
Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is a disability benefit for people over state pension age who have personal care needs. You might need support with things like getting dressed, washing, moving around the home or eating.
To claim Attendance Allowance, you should be:
- physically or mentally disabled
- State Pension age or older
You will need to show you require regular support either through the day or through the night, or all day and all night.
Use the State Pension calculator to check if you’re State Pension age.
Attendance Allowance is paid at two rates and you can check GOV.UK to find out how much you could get.
Carer’s Allowance
Carer’s Allowance is a government benefit you can claim if you care for someone else for 35 hours a week or more. You can also claim Carer’s Allowance if you are employed. Your earnings should not be more than £151 a week (after deductions) to qualify for Carer’s Allowance.
The person you care for should be getting one of these benefits:
- Personal Independence Payment – daily living part
- Disability Living Allowance – the middle or highest care rate
- Attendance Allowance
- Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
Carer’s Allowance and effect on other benefits
If you get other certain other benefits, you may not be able to claim Carer’s Allowance.
Likewise, claiming Carer’s Allowance could affect the benefits entitlement of the person who you are caring for if they are severely disabled.
If you share caring for someone with another carer, only one of you can claim Carer’s Allowance.
Before making a claim for Carers Allowance, you should always check the effect it will have on other benefits. You can seek specialist advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau or use EntitledTo’s benefit calculator.
Support from Kinship
Here at Kinship, we offer a range of free support for all kinship carers, including workshops, online advice and information, and peer support groups. While we don’t provide specific support for private foster carers, you may find some of our services useful.
Contact our advice service to speak to an adviser or book an appointment.