The Care England and Wagestream report Inclusion At The Crossroads launched in September found that care staff are financially excluded and are missing out on unclaimed benefits they are entitled to, and that those from ethnic minority backgrounds are a third as likely to receive state support compared to their white peers with similar income, and more likely to use sub-prime credit products. The report recommended that care providers support their valued workforce to discover and apply for state assistance they’re entitled to receive.
In order to do so, Care England has partnered with Turn2us to help employers support their care staff to do exactly that through the use of the free tools outlined below.
The Challenge
New research reveals that £22.7bn in benefits and support is going unclaimed across the UK – up from £19bn last year*. In the care sector, many staff may be eligible for welfare benefits but aren’t applying, often due to social stigma or a lack of understanding about what is available.
Furthermore, the Wagestream and Care England study found 15.7% of individuals from white backgrounds receive a state benefit compared to just 5.6% of individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds.* Care sector staff are feeling the financial strain more than ever, and more needs to be done to make staff from all backgrounds fully aware of what they’re entitled to.
How can care providers build financial security benefits for their staff?
Turn2Us is a national charity providing free practical information and support to end financial insecurity. They offer a range of free user-friendly, digital tools for care staff to access the financial support they need.
Six ways for managers to help maximise income for their care staff.
- Income Maximisation
Benefits Calculator – Helps staff quickly discover which welfare benefits they are eligible for.
Grants Search Tool – Staff may be missing out on non-repayable grants! The Grant Search tool helps match them with available funds.
2. Support for Disabilities, Mental Health and Long-Term Health Conditions
Staff with disabilities or mental health challenges qualify for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The PIP Helper Tool offers personalised guidance on PIP applications, with videos and tips from experts like Mencap and Mind.
3. Adviser accounts for those working with staff in a 1:1 or HR Wellbeing Teams
As a Care England member, you can access extra advisor tools with 47 additional funds and compare ‘what-if’ scenarios to find the best options for your staff. It’s also designed to help you provide tailored financial guidance to staff.
4. E-Learning for HR Teams
Build confidence in supporting the financial security of staff in the independent care sector. Turn2Us e-learning courses help understand the Grants Search tool and wider Turn2Us tools, so managers can be a champion for understanding what grants can be available, making the most of the free search tool and income maximisation in general.
5. Embed Tools on Employer Intranet
For easier access for care staff, the Turn2Us Benefits Calculator, Grants Search, and PIP Helper tools can be embedded into the care providers intranet service or HR platform and provider anonymised insights into staff needs, helping plan support more effectively.
6. Turn2Us Chatbot
Staff can get instant, discreet answers on benefits and grants using the Turn2Us chatbot – available on laptops, mobiles or tablets. Staff simply need to visit the tools and a pop-up will appear for customised support.
