You have the flexibility to control the support you provide, tailoring it to fit your lifestyle. You can choose to offer support that supplements your main income or make it your primary income source. You can adjust the level of support you offer and the number of people you support without committing to a full-time live-in arrangement. You can start small and either maintain that level or expand your involvement over time -it's entirely up to you.

Milton Keynes City Council will pay the support fees, this is based on their social care assessment of what support and care the person needs. The person you support will contribute towards accommodation and living costs from their housing benefits and other benefits.

Flexibility! You’re providing support from your own home and creating a way of life that suits you and the person you support. 

You will need to register as self-employed with HMRC. This can be done online, and you’ll have time to register after you’ve been approved. 

If you haven’t been self-employed before please don’t let put you off, many of our carers have been in the same position and we are here to help guide you though.

Shared Lives Plus members benefit from access to a FREE tax, NI and benefits helpline from Intellect Business Services and if you want Intellect Business Services to deal with HMRC on your behalf you can take advantage of their tax advice service which is discounted for Shared Lives Carers.

If you sign up for the tax return service, the Intellect team will:

• Ensure that you are minimising your tax liabilities
• Deal with HMRC on your behalf
• File your tax return for you
• Take away the stress, confusion and time constraints of completing tax returns

A special form of tax relief, Qualifying Care Relief, is available to people who provide Shared Lives care.

With Qualifying Care Relief, if your Shared Lives income in a tax year is less than the qualifying amount, you don’t have to make any Class 4 National Insurance contributions or pay any Income Tax on your Shared Lives income.

What is the qualifying amount?

• A fixed amount for each household of up to £18,140 a year; and
• £450.00 per person per week (for up to three people)

Example 1 – full financial year: 

Susan is a Shared Lives carer for Tony and Mike. Her Shared Lives income for the financial year is £33,800.

Since Tony and Mike have lived with her for the full financial year, Susan’s qualifying amount would be:

Fixed amount: £18,140 + weekly amount: £46,800 (£450 x 2 x 52) = qualifying amount: £69,940

Since Susan’s Shared Lives income (£33,800) is less than her qualifying amount (£69,940), she would not have to make any NIC Class 4 contributions or pay any tax on her Shared Lives income.

When carers express interest in Shared Lives, we assign them a Shared Lives Officer who will guide them throughout the application process and beyond. 

Shared Lives carer applicants will complete Shared Lives MK mandatory training through a E-learning portal. This can be completed at home and at the carers convenience. Carers will need a laptop/computer and an email address to access the E-Learning portal. Shared Lives MK will continue to support and monitor Carers' training needs throughout their tenure.

If Carers have prior experience in Social Care and possess relevant training certificates, these will be verified and considered during the assessment. Completion of The Care Certificate will be required for carers with no previous care experience.

For those supporting individuals with more complex needs or behaviours of concern, additional, bespoke training can be arranged.