Take A Break Grant

INTRODUCTION
The Take A Break Grant is an annually available Grant intended to support carers of adults (aged 18 years and over) by enabling them to take 'real time off'. The Grant can be used by the eligible carer to arrange for a service to be funded which the Carer would normally do, such as sitting services or the labour for decorating, gardening, or cleaning. In addition, where the Carer is on low income and receiving support such as income support or pension credit, the Grant can be used towards funding a short break or holiday.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
The Carer and the Cared for Person have to meet the following eligibility criteria:-

The Carer
The Carer must be providing a minimum of 28 hours of 'care' to an adult. 'Care' hours can be based on a variety of tasks:-

Nursing care and treatment
Domestic care
Supervision
Personal care
Emotional support
Assisting with mobility

also the carer must meet at least one of the following criteria:-

The Carer must be the sole carer for the cared for person and must receive no help from other sources such as family members, friends or neighbours.
The Carer is experiencing ill health or is in a crisis situation.

Young Carers

Young carers looking after an adult member of their family, are eligible even if they provide less than 28 hours care per week, but are processed through a separate system. Contact us for deatils.

The Cared For Person
The cared for person must be an adult and must meet at least one of the following criteria:-

Have....

Mental ill health, and be in contact with, or receiving support from, the mental health service (e.g. the Community Mental Health Teams).
A physical, sensory,or learning disability and be in receipt of Attendance Allowance or the middle or higher rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance.
A terminal or long term degenerative illness, e.g. cancer, dementia, Multiple Sclerosis.
The criteria for the Grant has been clarified and is targeted at specific types of support.

TYPES OF SUPPORT
The Grant can only be used for the following types of support:-

Sitting services, outside the remit of social services commissioned services, enabling the carer to take a break from caring.
Costs for funding physical work in and around the home which the carer would normally do NB: The grant can only be spent on labour costs - not for example, equipment/plants/paint/other materials.
Short breaks for low income families only. This part of the grant is to support the overall cost of a short break (including accommodation) to allow the carer to take a short break (with or without the cared for person) from their day to day caring role. To be eligible for this part of the grant, carers must be in receipt of one or more of the following benefits/credits:
Income support
Council tax credit
Housing benefit
Working tax credit
Guaranteed pension credit (not savings

HOW CAN THE MONEY BE USED?

The Take A Break Grant can only be used for the types of support described earlier. The carer will have to provide evidence to the awarding authority of how the money is spent (for example, copy of receipts, invoices, letters confirming use of the money).

HOW DO CARERS APPLY?

There are two ways of applying depending on whether the cared for person currently receives a service from Social Services or not. Eligibility and conditions are the same for both schemes - but the processes vary - aiming to make it as straightforward for the carer as possible.

WHICH SCHEME SHOULD THE CARER USE?

Cared for people who are already receiving 'Social Services' Support (Scheme A). Anyone who has a current care package provided by Leicestershire Social Services, or who is currently an open allocated case to one of our Social Workers, Occupational Therapists or any other Commissioning Worker can access the Take A Break scheme through the Social Services Application Process.

Cared for people who are not known to Social Services (Scheme B). People who meet the eligibility criteria for the scheme, but are not covered by Scheme A, can access this through their local Voluntary Action organisations.

This is not a means tested grant but carers should be aware that funds are determined on an annual basis and are very limited.

For those Carers in the Hinckley & Bosworth area, which includes locations such as Twycross and Ratby, please contact our Carers Development Worker on e-mail carers@vahb.org.uk for more information. Or telephone us at Hinckley (01455) 231998

Home

Search

Take A Break Grant


Home News/Events Funding Volunteering Moneywise Carers Events Contact Groups Grants Carers Newsletter Benefits Information Registration VOICE NM & SC Project Voluntary Sector Support Christmas Appeal Training Useful Links Feedback Contact Us Community Search Search Search For:	» Home» Carers» Grants Take A Break Grant INTRODUCTION The Take A Break Grant is an annually available Grant intended to support carers of adults (aged 18 years and over) by enabling them to take 'real time off'. The Grant can be used by the eligible carer to arrange for a service to be funded which the Carer would normally do, such as sitting services or the labour for decorating, gardening, or cleaning. In addition, where the Carer is on low income and receiving support such as income support or pension credit, the Grant can be used towards funding a short break or holiday. WHO IS ELIGIBLE? The Carer and the Cared for Person have to meet the following eligibility criteria:- The Carer The Carer must be providing a minimum of 28 hours of 'care' to an adult. 'Care' hours can be based on a variety of tasks:- Nursing care and treatment Domestic care Supervision Personal care Emotional support Assisting with mobility also the carer must meet at least one of the following criteria:- The Carer must be the sole carer for the cared for person and must receive no help from other sources such as family members, friends or neighbours. The Carer is experiencing ill health or is in a crisis situation. Young Carers Young carers looking after an adult member of their family, are eligible even if they provide less than 28 hours care per week, but are processed through a separate system. Contact us for deatils. The Cared For Person The cared for person must be an adult and must meet at least one of the following criteria:- *Have....* Mental ill health, and be in contact with, or receiving support from, the mental health service (e.g. the Community Mental Health Teams). A physical, sensory,or learning disability and be in receipt of Attendance Allowance or the middle or higher rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance. A terminal or long term degenerative illness, e.g. cancer, dementia, Multiple Sclerosis. The criteria for the Grant has been clarified and is targeted at specific types of support. TYPES OF SUPPORT The Grant can only be used for the following types of support:- Sitting services, outside the remit of social services commissioned services, enabling the carer to take a break from caring. Costs for funding physical work in and around the home which the carer would normally do NB: The grant can only be spent on labour costs - not for example, equipment/plants/paint/other materials. Short breaks for low income families only. This part of the grant is to support the overall cost of a short break (including accommodation) to allow the carer to take a short break (with or without the cared for person) from their day to day caring role. To be eligible for this part of the grant, carers must be in receipt of one or more of the following benefits/credits: *Income support* *Council tax credit* *Housing benefit* *Working tax credit* *Guaranteed pension credit (not savings* HOW CAN THE MONEY BE USED? The Take A Break Grant can only be used for the types of support described earlier. The carer will have to provide evidence to the awarding authority of how the money is spent (for example, copy of receipts, invoices, letters confirming use of the money). HOW DO CARERS APPLY? There are two ways of applying depending on whether the cared for person currently receives a service from Social Services or not. Eligibility and conditions are the same for both schemes - but the processes vary - aiming to make it as straightforward for the carer as possible. WHICH SCHEME SHOULD THE CARER USE? *Cared for people who are already receiving 'Social Services' Support (Scheme A).* Anyone who has a current care package provided by Leicestershire Social Services, or who is currently an open allocated case to one of our Social Workers, Occupational Therapists or any other Commissioning Worker can access the Take A Break scheme through the Social Services Application Process. *Cared for people who are not known to Social Services (Scheme B).* People who meet the eligibility criteria for the scheme, but are not covered by Scheme A, can access this through their local Voluntary Action organisations. This is not a means tested grant but carers should be aware that funds are determined on an annual basis and are very limited. For those Carers in the Hinckley & Bosworth area, which includes locations such as Twycross and Ratby, please contact our Carers Development Worker on e-mail carers@vahb.org.uk for more information. Or telephone us at Hinckley (01455) 231998
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2008. » Text Version. » Login Hosted by Leicestershire Rural Partnership. Developed by Cuttlefish. Powered by Leicestershire Community Portals. XHTML 1.0 validated. WCAG compliant. Page generated in 0.1257 seconds.