£200,000 secured for 98 unpaid carers
A West Cumbrian charity has managed to secure £200,000 extra benefits for carers in the last 12 months.
West Cumbria Carers has helped 98 people to claim the cash they are entitled to, thanks to its clinics, which provide free information on benefits.
Gillian Walker, the charity’s carers benefit support worker, said: “Navigating your way through the benefits system understanding entitlement and completing paperwork is complicated and time consuming.
Older women become primary carers during partner's final days, research shows
The role of the family is crucial
New research shows that older women are often the primary carers for their partner when they reach the end of their life.
More than 60% of informal care is provided by a spouse or partner – mainly women between the age of 35 and 64.
Carers urged to claim credit to boost state pension
A carer could receive more than £200 extra
Thousands of people with caring responsibilities are missing out on credits they are eligible for which could boost their pension by hundreds of pounds a year.
Currently, only an estimated one in 20 (5%) of those eligible have signed up to receive these additional contributions which will fill gaps in their National Insurance records, the Government said.
