Support when it’s needed: wellbeing payment for carers

One carer tells how timely support made all the difference at a difficult time

Looking after a loved one is rewarding. However, it can also be exhausting, both physically and emotionally. That’s why Surrey County Council has launched new carer wellbeing break payments to support unpaid carers to rest, recharge and focus on something just for them.

The one-off £300 payment, issued on a pre-paid card, can be used in any way that supports a carer’s wellbeing. That could mean

• taking a short break
• joining a fitness class
• pursuing a hobby or course
• buying helpful equipment
• arranging respite care

It’s designed to offer maximum flexibility, shaped by what carers have said would really make a difference.

Paula’s story

Paula and her husband Wayne used to run their own business. In her own words, they lived “a normal life”, going on holidays and spending time with friends and family. But that all changed in 2023 when Wayne suffered a brain injury.

After an extensive stay in hospital, Wayne returned home wholly dependent on his wife. Forced to give up the family business and the life she’d previously known, Paula was unprepared for the scale of her new role and the impact it had on her own wellbeing.

Following contact with the county council, Paula received a payment which enabled her to attend a carers’ course on understanding brain injury from local charity Headway Surrey. The six-week course meant she understood more about what to expect and offered advice on ways to better support her husband.

The payment didn’t just enable Paula to gain practical benefits from the course. It also helped her mentally adapt to her new situation and gave her an introduction to the understanding team at Headway.

“When Wayne had his injury, I suddenly found myself coping with all sorts of emotions as well as the practical problems that came with my new life as his carer,” she said. “Being able to access training thanks to a one-off payment helped me both practically and mentally. In my case the course was online, but it still represented a break from the day-to-day routine of my new role.”

Two years on, Paula accepts that life won’t ever go back to how it was, but she is determined to make the most of her situation. She describes the initial payment she received as a small but invaluable step that helped her adjust to her new role as one of Surrey’s dedicated carers.

Our new wellbeing break payment aims to offer that same kind of support to others who are new to caring or have recently been recognised as carers. It’s open to those who aren’t already receiving adult social care support and haven’t had a previous carer’s payment or break offer.

Full details of carer wellbeing break payments, including how people can apply and ideas for using the payment, can be found on our website.