If you have had to give up work, reduce the hours that you work or the person you care for previously provided income, then it is inevitable that your finances will have taken a big hit.

Caring can be expensive – increased travel to appointments, the need for takeaways when you’ve been dealing with a crisis, additional expenses if you need help around the home – all add up.

The information below should offer some suggestions that may help.

Managing someone else's money?

Read our pages about Empowerment and Managing someone else’s affairs

My wife’s income dropped from an average income to £66.15 a week. None of our expenses changed – we still needed two cars and the commitments we’d made based on 2 salaries didn’t disappear the day my daughter became a victim of crime. Money is a real worry.

Gary, A dad

Financial Support

Don't let debt get you down

If your finances have got to a perilous state and you are dealing with debt that cannot be sustained, then Step Change are extremely helpful, non-judgemental and WILL help you deal with debt. Don’t let money issues get on top of you – however frightening or distressing they can seem.

Benefits

You may be surprised what you are entitled to claim and running through a calculator will check that you are getting everything you should be receiving. This benefit checker from Entitled to is a comprehensive and accurate tool.

Claim for carers allowance if you aren’t working or carer’s credit if your income or circumstances do not allow it. Check the impact on other benefits but carer’s credit will ensure your National Insurance contributions continue to be paid if claiming the money isn’t to your benefit.

A successful application for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (for a child under 16) for your loved one can open up additional benefits that you may not have been entitled to before. There is no point in pretending this is an easy process, the forms are horrendous and depressing but if you have a body of evidence from hospital appointments, GP referrals or mental health support, then getting PIP is definitely worth it. It is not means tested so other family income will make no difference. There are a number of ‘hidden’ benefits that come with PIP and DLA – free carer’s tickets for concerts or days out, reduced train travel, higher universal credit payments, for example.

If your loved one initially gets turned down for ESA, PIP or DLA. for example, appeal and follow the process through to a tribunal if necessary. Many people get turned down in the first instance but a great many are awarded the benefit at tribunal.

If you are feeling confident that you can fill in the form yourself be aware that there are a number of key words that mean different things in the benefits world. If you’ve never filled one of the forms in before, we would strongly advice seeking additional help. If your loved ones difficulties mainly centre around their mental health then the tips on this webpage are invaluable.

If you aren’t confident about filling in the form yourself, then stick your postcode and topic into Advice Local and get some help. Most organisations are overwhelmed with demands for help, so contact them BEFORE starting the PIP or DLA process or you could find yourself with a deadline to return the form before you’ve actually managed to see anyone to help you. You can ask for an extension to return the forms if you are waiting for help but this can only be extended for a limited time and you’ll have to phone up again if you haven’t been able to get it done.

Housing

Keeping a roof over your head is probably the single biggest financial outlay you’ll have so it needs to be prioritised.
Mortgage companies can sometimes offer repayment holidays, interest only payments or reduced payments in order to help you stay in your home. Talk to them before things become disastrous – they like it when people preempt issues, rather than present them with a huge mess. Having said that, chucking you out of your home will be the last thing that they want to do, so talk to them.
Housing benefit rules have tightened up hugely over the last few years and it can seem that it is designed to make it impossible to claim. However, councils have a number of discretionary funds and rules that may mean that even if you were not previously entitled to housing benefit your caring role or the disability (including mental health) of your loved one may mean that additional bedrooms can be disregarded, rent reduced if you are living in social housing or the cap on the amount of benefit you can claim can be raised.  Use this link to you locate your council. There may be more than one depending on the authority arrangements in your area.

Something keeping you up at night?

You aren’t alone. You may find more information in our section: “The Tough Stuff” – things no-one talks about

Make a budget

Having some idea where all the money is going can really help keep things stable. Money can be hugely stressful and lead to cracks in relationships, resentment and anxiety. Budgeting isn’t exactly exciting but it will keep you in control.

This budgeting tool from Money Saving Expert is very comprehensive. It can feel a little overwhelming as it is very detailed so take your time and be prepared to have to hunt out the information required if you want it to be accurate. The advice and information from this site is second to none.

Compensation

Most victims of sexual or violent crime are entitled to compensation via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority. Be careful with google on this one – a huge bunch of commercial organisations that will take a cut of your loved ones compensation will come up before the official link. The process is arduous and the crime must have been reported to the police to be eligible. If your loved one was a child when the crime occurred or if the crime was of a sexual nature, then the 2 year reporting / claim rule can usually be waived – don’t let it put you off. It’s an arduous process but can lead to a lump sum payment and continuing support for your loved one.

Insurance

Check through any private health, buildings and contents insurance, any life insurance policies, even your car insurance documents and bank accounts for hidden or unknown benefits that you may not remember. Some of these policies have additional benefits, such as legal advice that can make a difference. If you or you loved one has critical injury benefits as part of your life insurance this may offer some options.

Grants

There are many grants available to carers and victims of crime. In order to meet the criteria, you often have to meet very specific location, occupation or circumstantial criteria but if you DO meet these, then often these grant makers are actively looking for suitable recipients.

Turn To Us is a good place to search and add in all your details. Remember to search not only for yourself or loved one who has been a victim of crime but also for your children or other family members as well.

Most councils have a Local Offer which can be a grant for disabled children (including mental health) that can be spent on either local activities or used as payment for respite.

The bigger energy companies have funds available for financial hardship and if you’ve built up a large bill and you meet their criteria, they may write off your deficit and you don’t have to be a customer of one of the ‘big six.’

Making a complaint about finance or benefits services

If you need to complain about benefits – this Department of Work and Pensions page tells you how

Complaints about housing benefit or housing priority or bedroom tax should be directed to your local council

The complaints procedure for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority is here. If your complaint is about their decision, then there is an appeals process which is different to a complaint about customer service. If your complaint is about the delay – it can take up to 18 months, then speak to your MP who may be willing to write to them to ask them to hurry up!

There is more information about complaining about more general financial services here.

The information on this page of our website explains why people don’t complain… and why they should if they are unhappy with a service they’ve received.

As an organisation, Restitute does not offer immediate financial relief but if you live in Norfolk or Suffolk, we can help to get your finances in order, ensure you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to, support with grant applications and help with budgeting. We know that’s not ideal and it means yet more paperwork.

We are working with local businesses who may be able to help with practical solutions and remove some of the cost of keeping your head above water – or even help to improve your life. Get in contact and let’s see what we can do.