Do you know about Carers Card Accounts?

Shopping trolley in supermarket

17 October 2023

If an illness or disability means friends or family rely on you to do your shopping, withdraw cash or pay for bills, then a Carer’s Card account might be useful for you.

What is a Carers Card Account?

A Carers Card Account is a special feature on a bank account offered by many high-street banks that allows the account holder to give restricted access to money in their bank account to a trusted person who provides care.

What each bank offers is slightly different, but typically: 

  • you and the person you’re sharing access with needs to be 18 or older and a UK resident

  • the account holder needs to have a personal current account with the bank chosen for the Carer’s Card 

  • no overdraft will be available, and interest won’t be paid on the balance

  • the account will be in the account holders name and the carer will not have full access 

  • the carer will receive their own debit card for the account holders account with limited access

  • the person you give a card to will only have a limited access to funds that the account holder can control 

  • the card can usually only be used for limited cash withdrawals or spending in physical shops – not online or over the phone. 

Check with local bank/ building society branches if they offer this service and find out more here