Finances and benefits

Question one - My husband has had a stroke and can no longer work. We have £10,000 savings. What benefits can we claim and how much will we get?

Entitlement to disability and sickness benefits is a complex area and it is always best to get specialist advice so that you don't miss out on anything. The Stroke Information Service does not offer detailed benefits advice, but our resource sheet on Benefits provides an introduction to the types of help that may be available, plus useful contacts.

Organisations such as your local Citizens Advice Bureau or local Pension Service can provide further advice on claiming benefits, and how to get help with completing the forms if needed. The Disability Alliance as well as Age Concern or Help the Aged all provide information about benefits on their websites. Some local branches of Age Concern and some Carer Support Services can also offer benefits advice.

Question two - My husband, who is 39, is currently unable to work following his stroke. We have three young children - how are we going to manage?

Anyone with ongoing disability after stroke is entitled to be assessed by their local Social Services for community care. If this hasn’t happened before returning home contact your local council to find out how this can be arranged. The Social Worker should be able to advise you on benefits that you and your husband may be eligible for - see our resource sheet on Benefits for an introduction to the types of help that may be available, plus useful contacts.

Your local Citizens Advice Bureau and some carer support services can advise on benefit entitlement. You can also contact the Benefit Enquiry Line for information on benefits available for disabled people and their carers, or download useful publications on benefit entitlement from the Disability Alliance - an independent charity with expertise in this area. Directgov also has a wide variety of useful information, for example on Carer's Allowance which you may be eligible to claim if you are a full-time carer.

You may like to read our report on Getting Back to Work After Stroke launched in 2006 as part of our Campaigns The report looks at people’s experiences of returning to work after stroke. Our factsheet on Stroke in Younger Adults also lists useful contacts, including services offering support if your partner considers returning to work. You can also visit our pages on support at home and how family can help through this difficult time, and read our Carer's Guide for further information on accessing help and support as a carer for your partner.