Carer's Respite Benefit – a hand of support

Research from leading charity Carers UK, who represents the UK’s 6.5 million unpaid carers, states that over 80% of carers say that their role has negatively affected their physical and mental health and only one in 10 say that they have breaks away from the person they care for. It’s a worrying situation.

Our Carer's Respite Benefit* has been specifically designed to help our members, who are carers for someone who is ill or disabled, take a well-earned break. We also want them to know that they are not alone.

We also offer carers, who are members, year-round support, advice and help through our Care and Welfare Helpline, as well as local Branch Care and Welfare Support.

Our Carer’s Respite Benefit covers the cost of a break for you as a carer. This could be in one of our partner convalescence homes, or you may prefer to book a stay in a UK hotel of your choice or take a short UK package break.

Alternatively, we can pay for the person you care for to stay somewhere that provides the level of care that they require, or arrange care for them at home – allowing you to take time out, but in the comfort of your own home.

If you and the person you care for are Oddfellows members, it may be possible to use both your membership entitlements to enable the person you care for to be looked after and for you to have a break away from home.

Carers’ Respite Benefit is available to members from the start of their third year of membership and can be accessed every other year if remaining eligible. You must be the main carer for someone who requires on-going support as a result of a disability, long term illness or old age.

How to apply

Please contact your Branch Secretary who will send you a Carer Application Form (V422) which you need to complete and return to the Oddfellows’ Care and Welfare team. You can find their details by using our Branch Finder.

Please note that if you are applying for care at home, our appointed care provider will visit you at home to assess your needs and put together a care package for our approval. It is important that you do not instruct or put in place any services before we have agreed to them. This may result in you being responsible for any costs incurred.

Not yet an Oddfellows member? Help during difficult times is just one of the many benefits of Oddfellows membership. Discover other ways in which we can help you get even more out of life.

*Terms and conditions apply to all financial benefits. All Oddfellows benefits are non-contractual and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Read the full list of member benefit terms and conditions.