As a young carer, you might have to take on some or all of the responsibility for managing your family’s finances. However, this can be a daunting task and you might feel underprepared. Financial jargon can be really confusing and you might not have learnt much at school about how to deal with money. It might sometimes seem impossible to wrap your head around everything you need to know.
You are not the only one who feels this way. Recent research found that the majority of young carers aren't sure how to handle bills, manage a budget or claim the benefits their family are entitled to. [1] Many adults even find it tough to understand these things.
But don’t be disheartened; you can learn. We provide information, advice and guidance about the most important things you should know when it comes to dealing with money.
In our guide ‘Help with budgeting and bills as a young carer’ we explain how to create a budget so that you and your household only spend as much as you have coming in. We give our top tips about how to deal with household bills like rent, Council Tax, internet and utilities. We also explain how you can make sure you are getting the very best deals for you and your family.
We also provide a couple of guides to make sure you are claiming all the money that you and your family are entitled to. Our guide ‘Checking the benefits you can claim as a young carer’ explains what Carer’s Allowance and Universal Credit are and whether you might be eligible to claim either of them. We also have a guide called ‘Grants to support you as a young carer’ which explains about additional funding that you might be eligible for and how you can apply for it.
Online Help and Advice
Visit our online support section where we have provided advice and guidance on a range of relevant topics to help you in your caring role.