Pay and advantages
“I would rate the support I have received in recent years, and continue to receive, as exemplary. Great reciprocal communication and highly professional attitude with a friendly, concerned, and supportive approach.”
Advantages of being a Shared Lives carer
As well as making a real difference to people's lives, you can enjoy many other benefits, including:
- tax benefits, where you may be able to apply for Qualifying Care Relief to reduce the amount of tax you pay
- working from home, offering greater flexibility around work and home life
- the chance to apply for a Blue Light Card
- a Shared Lives carer ID card, which confirms your role and can give you discounts at some local and national businesses
- training courses to help you learn new skills and develop your career
- ongoing support from the Shared Lives team, where you will have your own Shared Lives worker and access to duty and out-of-hours contact numbers
- opportunities to meet and get support from other Shared Lives carers across West Sussex
- access to West Sussex County Council's 24-hour health and wellbeing support programme
- membership of Shared Lives Plus, which gives you a reduced public liability insurance fee
Jo Braine on the advantages of being a Shared Lives carer.
2 mins
Shared Lives carer payments
Long-term Shared Lives carers
We pay long-term Shared Lives carers every 4 weeks.
Payments are made:
- 2 weeks in arrears (for care already provided)
- 2 weeks in advance (for upcoming care)
Your weekly payment includes:
- a care and support payment, based on the person's assessed needs
- rent, calculated using the Local Housing Allowance one-bedroom rate for your area
- a contribution of £90 per week towards food and household utilities
Short break and day share carers
Short break and day share carers submit invoices and booking forms after they complete care sessions. We use these documents to arrange payment.
We pay invoices after care has been provided.
We can provide training on invoicing if you need it.
Long-term care and support payments
| Payment element | Band A | Band B | Band C |
| Care and support payment | £372.38 | £480.13 | £526.30 |
| Food and utilities contribution | £90 | £90 | £90 |
| Weekly total (excluding rent)* | £462.38 | £570.13 | £616.30 |
* In addition to the amounts above, you will receive rent payments based on the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) one-bedroom rate for your area.
Short break payments
| Support level | Payment |
| Low rate | £73.30 per night |
| High rate | £99.65 per night |
Additional payments are:
- Assessed higher support needs: £15.40 extra per session
- Food contribution: £7.14 per day
Day share payments
| Service | Payment |
| Day share | £53.86 per day |
| Light lunch contribution (where provided) | Additional £3 per day |
Contact us
If you'd like to find out more about the Shared Lives scheme, have a chat to one of the team by calling 033 022 25700 Monday to Thursday between 9am to 5pm and Friday between 9am to 4.30pm.
Email the team at sharedlives.dutyworker@westsussex.gov.uk.
Call using Relay UK: 18001 0330 22 25700 (from a textphone or the NGT Lite app downloaded onto a computer, tablet or smartphone).