Latest news with #Carers
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Thousands of people to get free £290 payment this year – see who is eligible
THOUSANDS of people are set to receive a free £290 payment this year. The extra money comes via the Carer's Allowance Supplement which is issued to households in Scotland. 1 The supplement is paid twice a year to those on Carer Support Payment or Carer's Allowance and each instalment is worth £293.50. The first payment was made in June to those receiving one of the qualifying benefits on April 14. The second will be made from December if you are getting either of the two benefits on October 13. If you're due a payment later this year, you'll get a letter from Social Security Scotland letting you know you're eligible. Anyone who qualifies does not have to apply as payments are made automatically. If you don't get Carer Support Payment or Carer's Allowance because you receive other "underlying" benefits - you don't get a Carer's Allowance Supplement. Around 90,000 were issued a Carer's Allowance Supplement in June, meaning a similar amount can expect payments this December. What if I don't live in Scotland? You might be able to get Carer's Allowance Supplement if you have a "genuine and sufficient link" to Scotland but live outside the UK, in the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland or Gibraltar. Some of the factors the Scottish government considers when deciding whether you have a genuine and sufficient link to the country include: you have spent a significant part of your life in Scotland you have worked, or have previously and paid social security or tax contributions you have Scottish bank accounts or other financial products you have the right to any rented or owned property in Scotland you have any family members living in Scotland you have frequent contact with family members in Scotland Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence Some of the countries that fall into the EEA are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Spain and Norway. For Social Security Scotland to determine whether you're eligible for Carer's Allowance Supplement while living outside of the UK, it goes over some residency details before making a decision on your application. More information on what types of details it will ask for, visit - Other available help It's worth checking if you're eligible for benefits - it could boost your bank balance by thousands of pounds a year. Some benefits come with added perks as well, like Pension Credit which can unlock a free TV licence for those aged 75 or older. Meanwhile, if you're struggling with the cost of food, check where your nearest food bank is. The Trussell Trust has hundreds of food banks across the UK- you can find your nearest one here - The Trust's food banks issue emergency parcels to people who cannot afford to cover costs themselves. If you have fallen behind on your energy bills, you might be able to get a grant to wipe any debt. British Gas and Octopus Energy, the UK's two biggest energy firms, both run schemes offering customers grants worth up to £2,000. Some energy firms will debt match any repayments as well. Are you missing out on benefits? YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get. Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit. and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data. You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for. .
News.com.au
09-08-2025
- Health
- News.com.au
Palliative Care Connect: Help at hand to share the burden
Palliative care can help improve the quality of life for South Australians with a life-limiting illness and earlier access to these support services may help them live better. Patients, their carers and families as well as their health and medical professionals are advised they can seek help and support earlier than they may think, so they do not struggle unnecessarily or feel as alone. Palliative care can involve a range of services provided at any stage of the illness to make everyday life a little easier, from assistance with future planning such as an advance care directive to home equipment, services and medications that can help reduce symptoms. A common misconception is that palliative care is only available to people who are imminently dying, so many access the care they need late or not at all. Associate Professor David Holden, Medical Head of Unit at the Northern Adelaide Palliative Service, says many patients and family members know they need support and do not always know where to go for it. 'For some of our patients, they may need help with symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath or nausea,' he says. 'It might be sorting out social or financial matters or receiving equipment to remain longer at home. 'It might be getting down to see the local footy team or go to their local church or community group and maintaining those links that matter to them. 'At its heart, palliative care is asking patients what is most important to them, identifying those connections – whether that be time with friends or family, their hobbies and activities that bring them joy – and doing our best to support them in maintaining those relationships.' Palliative care is available to patients with any life-limiting illness and is not limited to cancer. People can access palliative care regardless of where they live, including in residential care or at home as well as in hospitals and hospices. Some patients access palliative care services in person while others, particularly in regional and remote areas, may access services via a mixture of in-person, telehealth and telephone support. While palliative care supports management of physical symptoms, it also focuses on emotional, psychological and spiritual needs. It supports carers and families. Associate Professor Holden highlights that general practitioners and other health professionals all provide general palliative care and to reach out when they are unsure or have symptoms. 'Specialist palliative care can provide support for more complex needs or when the treating teams need extra assistance,' he says. 'The early identification that there might be better ways of doing things or when you feel you might be able to live better with some support is the time to ask.' To help people access support, the Palliative Care Connect service is being trialled in South Australia but it is being considered for national implementation. In the past two years, the phone line and website have supported more than 1300 people with or caring for somebody with a life-limiting illness. 'Particularly when you have the diagnosis or you're feeling overwhelmed caring for someone being helped,' he says. 'Being helped by professionals to navigate the system and access needed services provides a sense of confidence and relief for our patients, which may improve the experience of death and dying for everyone involved.' Palliative Care Connect also offers a standalone bereavement service, which can provide counselling, support and referrals so people do not feel they have to struggle alone. Palliative Care Connect is provided for everyone in South Australia, without referral or cost. Making the right connection When Carole Jarrett, 80, contacted Palliative Care Connect, she suddenly did not feel quite so alone. The 'incredibly supportive' team of palliative care navigators immediately answered her request for information for herself and her husband Bruce, 84, who passed away in September, 2024. A friend had emailed her the link to the Palliative Care Connect website at the start of the year, but after her stepdaughter did the same in May, she decided to take a look. She submitted her concerns and queries via its online call-back request form and within 15 minutes, a palliative care navigator had called her. 'I knew nothing about palliative care or what stage you could seek out palliative care,' she says. 'I explained the situation that Bruce and I were finding ourselves in, and that I was most concerned about how I would access help with Bruce showering and so on. The following day, an aged-care coach interviewed us and granted us a level 3 Home Care package; then an OT (occupational therapist) came the following day with equipment for me to assist Bruce. All of a sudden, I didn't feel quite alone.' Over the following months, her assigned navigator regularly checked in, explained and helped her through the aged-care system, answered questions, and generally provided a supportive ear. They also spearheaded the process for Bruce to move to respite care, where he passed eight days after leaving hospital. Carole says despite having family and friends, it still feels a lonely time and appreciates her palliative care navigator called her to check in. She praises the speed with which they operate and encourages others to call the service, even if they think it is too early to do so. 'If I'd gone on to the link sooner than I did, I might have been able to at least talk to somebody about what to expect, because you don't really know what to expect when you're edging towards this time in your life,' she says. 'The sadness and all of that sort of thing is still there but you feel like you are being supported externally by somebody that you know you can just say anything to, and get that bit of extra knowledge, I think it makes the journey a lot easier.' Navigating a caring pathway As a Palliative Care Connect Navigator, Myles Morrison often demystifies that palliative care is not the same as end of life. 'It's a common misunderstanding we often need to gently unpack,' he says. 'We clarify that palliative care is actually about helping individuals of all ages with a life-limiting illness live as fully and comfortably as possible, not just about the very end of someone's life.' Morrison is one of two social workers and two nurses at Palliative Care Connect, taking calls and responding to website queries from people who are dealing with the physical and emotional effects of a life-limiting illness, or emotions following a diagnosis or a death. They focus on navigating people to those services that can meet their needs by helping them find connection, gain knowledge and access the service providers most relevant in what can be a challenging and complex time. As well as patients, carers and families, the service assists GPs, nurses, aged care and hospital staff and even community groups wanting to access palliative care and understand end-of-life or death and dying in general. A referral is not required. 'Honestly, (we assist) anyone, which I think is a real strength of the service,' Morrison says. 'We've spent a lot of time working directly within aged-care homes too, supporting residents, their families and delivering education or help for staff.' They regularly answer queries around hospice options, financial support, My Aged Care and advance care directives but also provide a space for someone to debrief and explore what is available. 'I've also observed that guilt really tries to get a foothold in this space, often whispering to carers that they're not doing enough, when in reality, they are doing the very best they can,' Morrison says. 'A big part of what we do is helping people see they're not alone in these struggles and that helps to foster a real sense of connection to a wider community. 'Because everyone is unique, our approach is always to really listen to people's stories. 'We're also here to connect people to the right resources for their specific needs, whether they're at the beginning of their diagnosis or at the end of their life, or if they're family and carers needing that extra bit of guidance. 'We make sure to reassure them that there's truly no right way to approach death, dying, grief, or bereavement, and that alone often brings relief.'
News.com.au
30-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Maximum Parental Leave Pay days to increase from July 1 for parents, carers
Parents or carers of children who will be born in the new financial year will soon benefit from more paid parental leave. From July 1, Services Australia will lift the number of Parental Leave Pay days from 110 to 120 for children born from that day. Parents, including of adoptive children, will be able to claim up to three months before the date they expect the child to 'enter their care'. Parental Leave Pay is intended to support families and caregivers who have taken time off work to care for a newborn or newly adopted child. Currently, parents with children born since July 1, 2024 receive 110 days of paid parental leave, including any claims before July 1, 2025. For the new maximum of 120 days, a parent or carer will have to provide proof that their child was either born or adopted from that date. The maximum number of Parental Leave Pay days is expected to rise again to 130 from July 1, 2026. In order to be eligible for the payments, a parent or carer must pass a work and income test and not be working the days they receive the payment. The payment is available before, during, and after employer-funded leave and is only available for a single child in the event of multiple children. The current payment for Parental Leave Pay is $183.16 per day before tax or $915.80 per five-day week. That is based on the weekly rate of the national minimum wage.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Over 150,000 will see benefit payments cut under major PIP changes, DWP confirms – are you affected?
OVER 150,000 on benefits will see their payments cut under Personal Independence Payments (PIP) changes, the DWP has confirmed. The Government is shaking up the way PIP is assessed meaning hundreds of thousands will miss out from November 2026. It comes as ministers look to cut the increasing welfare bill by clawing back billions of pounds of benefits. But the changes will also have a knock-on effect on carers who qualify for benefits because they look after someone on PIP. From late next year, new and existing PIP claimants being reassessed will have to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity to receive the Daily Living Component. The higher rate of the Daily Living Component is currently worth £110.40 a week. Claimants will also have to score at least eight points when being assessed. The Government estimates this means by 2029/30 around 800,000 won't receive the Daily Living Component of PIP. But it has also confirmed 150,000 will be missing out on Carer's Allowance or the Universal Credit Carer's Element by 2029/30 too. This is because to receive either of these carer's benefits you have to be caring for someone who receives the Daily Living part of PIP. It means new and existing PIP claimants finding they are no longer eligible will disqualify their carer's from next November when the changes kick in. What are Carer's Allowance and the carer's element of Universal Credit? Carer's Allowance is paid to those caring for someone else (who is on benefits) for at least 35 hours a week and is worth £83.30 a week. Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence You don't have to be related to the person you care for, or live with them, to qualify. If you are on Carer's Allowance you also receive National Insurance credits which contribute to your NI record. What classes as someone needing "care" is based on them qualifying for a number of benefits. These are: Personal Independence Payment - Daily Living Component Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate Attendance Allowance Pension Age Disability Payment 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 Child Disability Payment - the middle or highest care rate Adult Disability Payment - daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate The person you are caring for must also need help with certain tasks including: washing and cooking, being taken to the doctors and household tasks like managing bills or going food shopping. Carer's Allowance is issued to those living in England, Wales or Scotland aged 16 or over. It's worth noting, receiving Carer's Allowance can impact the benefits the person you are caring for gets. For example, they will usually stop receiving a severe disability premium or an extra amount for severe disability premium if they are on Pension Credit. You can apply for Carer's Allowance and find out more about the exact eligibility criteria via The carer's element of Universal Credit is added to your Universal Credit standard allowance if you care for someone and they receive a number of qualifying benefits. These are: Adult Disability Payment – standard or enhanced award Armed Forces Independence Payment Attendance Allowance Child Disability Payment – middle or highest care award Constant Attendance Allowance - full day rate, intermediate rate or exceptional rate with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Constant Attendance Allowance - full day rate with a War Disablement Pension Disability Living Allowance – middle or highest care rate Personal Independence Payment – either rate of the Daily Living Part To get the carer's element you'll also need to be providing 35 hours a week of care to the person receiving the qualifying benefit. You get an extra monthly amount worth £201.68. If you are receiving an extra amount because you have a limited capability for work and work related activity (LCWRA), you won't qualify for the extra carer's element part. Meanwhile, if the person you care for gets the severe disability premium, it will stop when you claim the carer's element of Universal Credit. Are you missing out on benefits? YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get. Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit. and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data. You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs. Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for. .
