1.3 Explain the importance of providing information about benefits, allowances and financial planning which could support individuals to live at home

This guide will help you answer 1.3 Explain the importance of providing information about benefits, allowances and financial planning which could support individuals to live at home.

When supporting someone to live at home, financial support can make a real difference. Many individuals are eligible for money to help meet care costs, bills, equipment, or adjustments to their home. Yet, benefits and allowances are a complex area, and some people do not know what help they can get.

Providing accurate information about financial help allows people to make informed choices and improves their quality of life. It supports independence, reduces stress, and helps people remain safe and comfortable at home.

This guide covers the importance of giving information about benefits, allowances, and financial planning for individuals supported to live at home.

Reducing Financial Stress

Living at home with care support can be expensive. Extra costs might include:

• Home care fees
• Adaptations or equipment
• Transport for appointments
• Utility bills
• Cleaning, meals, or shopping deliveries

Many individuals live on fixed or low incomes and may worry about how to afford what they need. If they are not getting all the money they can claim, they may cut back on essentials or delay seeking support, which can harm their health and wellbeing. Clear information about financial help eases this stress and reassures both individuals and families.

Promoting Independence

Many people want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. Financial support can be the difference between staying at home and having to consider residential care. Extra funds can pay for:

• Personal care services
• Domestic help
• Safety equipment such as handrails or alarms
• Transport to social activities

With this support, individuals are more likely to continue living independently, manage their routines, and feel in control of their lives.

Access to Rights and Entitlements

Every person in the UK has a right to claim certain benefits and allowances under the law. Examples include:

• Attendance Allowance: for people over state pension age who need help due to illness or disability
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP): for working-age people needing extra help
• Carer’s Allowance: for someone spending over 35 hours per week caring for someone else
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children
• Pension Credit: extra money for pensioners on low incomes

Without the correct information, many miss out on benefits they are entitled to. Some people feel embarrassed or do not understand the system. Support workers and professionals have a duty to provide up-to-date and clear information about how to access these benefits.

Making Informed Decisions

Good financial advice allows individuals and families to plan for now and the future. Knowing what money is available and what costs to expect helps people:

• Choose the right level and type of support
• Plan for emergencies or health changes
• Avoid debt and manage bills
• Decide about adaptations or extra equipment

Information about financial planning enables people to compare options and choose what suits them best.

Preventing Hardship and Neglect

Financial difficulties can lead to hardship, such as:

• Poor nutrition due to lack of money for food
• Inability to heat the home in winter
• Missing essential care visits
• Delaying maintenance and safety improvements
• Risk of eviction or falling behind with bills

Providing information about available benefits can prevent neglect and hardship by giving the person or their family the means to meet these needs.

Supporting Carers

Carers, both family and friends, may be entitled to financial help themselves. Carer’s Allowance and carer’s assessments can provide:

• Direct payments for caring
• Access to breaks or respite care
• Free training and advice
• Reduced council tax in some cases

If carers do not know about this support, they may face extra strain, leading to breakdowns in care and poorer outcomes for everyone.

Accessing Grants and Charitable Help

Many charities and local authorities offer grants for:

• Extra equipment
• Home modifications
• Emergency expenses
• Mobility aids

This help is often only available if people apply, and they must know it exists. Some need support with applications or with evidence, such as reports or bills. Providing information about these options widens the pool of support and fills gaps that state benefits may not cover.

Preventing and Reducing Social Isolation

If finances are tight, people may feel they cannot afford to take part in social activities, travel, or enjoy hobbies. With the right benefits and allowances, they can:

• Attend local groups or clubs
• Travel to visit friends or family
• Pay for internet, phone, or activities
• Take part in community events

This helps prevent loneliness, supports mental health, and encourages active living.

Making Best Use of Statutory and Voluntary Services

Many people qualify for funded support, such as:

• Free or subsidised equipment
• Council-funded home adaptations
• Help with meals or transport
• Social worker involvement

Clear information helps people claim these services and makes sure public money reaches those who need it most. Where statutory support is not enough, charities may provide top-ups or extras.

Supporting Informed Consent and Choice

Being able to make choices about care, living arrangements, and support relies on understanding what resources are available. People cannot give informed consent or exercise real choice unless they have the full picture. Information about finances is a vital part of this, alongside details about care and medical support.

Increasing Take-up and Preventing Underclaiming

In the UK, some millions of pounds of benefits and support go unclaimed each year. Reasons for this include:

• Not knowing what’s available
• Believing they do not qualify
• Finding the process confusing or too complex

Support workers, advisers, and professionals play a central role in making sure individuals know about their rights and helping them claim. This maximises take-up and reduces poverty.

Promoting Equality and Fairness

People from some communities or backgrounds may be more likely to miss out on financial help. Barriers include language, lack of access to internet, literacy problems, or past negative experiences. Giving clear, accessible information about benefits promotes fairness and makes sure no one is left behind.

Information should be available in:

• Easy read formats
• Different languages
• Audio or video formats

Support staff must adapt their approach to the individual’s needs and preferences.

Encouraging Better Money Management

Good information includes not only details of available benefits but also advice on budgeting, saving, and managing spending. Financial planning can help individuals avoid debt, prioritise their spending, and save for emergencies. This supports a secure home life and reduces anxiety about the future.

Supporting Transitions and Changing Needs

As people’s needs change, so too may their benefits and allowances. For example:

• More care may be needed after illness or injury
• Someone’s carer may change, become ill, or no longer be able to help
• People may move between working age and pension age benefits

Regular information checks and support with reviews or reassessments help people to keep up with changes and avoid sudden loss of income.

Building Trust and Confidence

Sharing accurate information about finances builds trust between individuals, their families, and support staff. It shows staff know both the practical and human side of care and are willing to help with more than just daily living tasks.

A worker who can explain benefits and help apply for them gives extra reassurance to those feeling vulnerable or overwhelmed by official paperwork.

Supporting Legal and Regulatory Duties

Health and social care workers have legal duties – for example, the Care Act 2014 and Mental Capacity Act 2005 stress the importance of wellbeing, empowerment, and supporting people to make choices. Providing clear financial information is a part of meeting these duties. It demonstrates safe, ethical, and person-centred practice.

How Information Can Be Provided

Support staff can use several methods to share information about benefits and financial planning, such as:

• One-to-one conversations
• Leaflets or written guides
• Referring individuals to specialist benefits advisers
• Inviting advice services to speak at groups
• Arranging appointments with Citizens Advice or Age UK

Workers should always explain information in plain, clear language and check the individual understands.

Final Thoughts

Getting the right information about benefits, allowances, and good financial planning is a key part of supporting someone to live at home. It reduces financial stress, increases independence, helps meet essential needs, and promotes wellbeing. Everyone involved in care has a role in guiding individuals to the help they need, making sure people live safely, confidently, and with dignity in their own homes.