How Carer Money Matters helped me navigate financial challenges as a full-time carer

_{This blog shares the story of a carer who prefers to remain anonymous, and we’ll refer to her as Julie. Please note, the image used is stock imagery and not of the carer herself.} 

Carer Money Matters provides information and support to carers on ways to increase their household income. These services are being delivered by Carers Trust Network Partners, which are local carer organisations, in 23 areas across England, Scotland, and Wales. 

The services have been designed to provide information and advice in ways that are most helpful for carers in their specific area. Each service understands the financial needs of carers and builds on partnerships with local specialist services and organisations. 

I’m Julie, 58, from Swansea. I’m a full-time, live-in carer for my parents. My father, 90, suffers from Macular Degeneration and Alzheimer’s Disease. My mother, 84, suffers from severe osteoporosis and dual incontinence. 

I am also in the process of investigating whether she might be in the early stages of frontal temporal lobe dementia. Both parents are housebound, and I manage all their care, including their financial affairs and the running of their home. 

I heard about Carer Money Matters on BBC Radio Wales, which mentioned a one-time support grant being offered to unpaid carers in Wales of up to £300. I contacted Swansea Carers Centre to see if I would be eligible. 

After assessing my situation over the phone, I was awarded £200 in grocery vouchers. This support was extremely helpful, especially as my mother had not yet been seen by the NHS Bladder & Bowel Department but was already experiencing significant challenges. 

The vouchers allowed us to purchase the required incontinence products before Mum was registered with the NHS for free incontinence pants. My full-time job is to care for my beautiful parents. Monthly, I receive Carer’s Allowance and Universal Credit, which add up to around £400 per month. 

Without a full salary coming in, we are essentially living on my parents’ pensions. Every financial decision I make has to be well thought out. We don’t believe in debt or credit cards, so we must make our money work for us. 

If there is a grant or subsidy we’re eligible for, it is my responsibility to research it thoroughly on behalf of my family. Carer Money Matters helped me become aware of available financial benefits and provided me with the tools to access this assistance. 

Lucy Casey at Swansea Carers Centre advised me on what to say when I spoke to Welsh Water, which was helpful. Knowing that I can always approach Lucy with questions gives me a sense of support that’s uplifting. 

I’d tell other carers in a similar position to me that I know, as a carer, your to-do list is long, and your worry list is even longer, but if you take just one moment to either email or call Carers Trust’s network of carers centres offering Carer Money Matters support, both lists will be shortened. 

Also, the very act of sharing your situation will give you immediate peace of mind, which could translate into the first good night’s sleep you’ve had in a long time. 

The financial impact on my caring role is significant. On one hand, I am forfeiting an annual salary of approximately £60,000. On the other hand, being an only child, I have the opportunity to spend this precious time with my parents. 

I know that as long as I am present, they will receive the finest and most loving care possible. I truly wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Lucy also made me aware that, by registering with social services, my father, due to his recent Alzheimer’s diagnosis, might be eligible for financial assistance that could pay for a sitter to stay with him. This would be helpful when I need to attend medical appointments myself or take my mother to appointments. 

I’m currently in the process of completing the required paperwork for this, which was sent to us by Swansea Council. My initial contact with Lucy led to me benefiting from Carers Hardship Grant (£200), Dementia Emergency Respite Funding (£500), the Amser Sitting Service, and Demystifying Dementia Training, all of which I consider myself very fortunate to have received. 

Carer Money Matters has not only helped me financially but also provided emotional support through its services. 

All of this has made a real difference in my life. I believe that carers need to talk and spend time in nature where possible, it really does help. Human beings are social creatures, and it is through sharing information and working together that we thrive. 

However, a carer can become isolated quite quickly, so talking and sharing is the first pillar of support. Additionally, time spent in nature has been scientifically proven to lower blood pressure and heart rate, which improves both mental and physical health. 

Walking through a forest, hearing the birds, seeing different species of plants and trees, and hearing running water or the wind in the trees can be incredibly calming. If I hadn’t received this support, it would have taken me months, if not longer, to obtain the vital information that Lucy and Carer Money Matters gave me in a single telephone conversation. 

That conversation was a turning point for me. I really needed the help, and now life is better. The future looks brighter because I know I have this support available, and that makes a huge difference. 

Swansea Carers Centre is a specialist voluntary organisation supporting unpaid and former carers across the City & County of Swansea. They offer free, confidential advice, information, and opportunities to connect with others, share experiences, and campaign for positive change. They offer Carer Money Matters services to help carers manage their finances and access the support they're entitled to.