This week, Paddy Cullen, manager of Carers UK information and advice line, helps Your Money reader Chris Cole.
Mr Cole's 15-year-old daughter has ME and an eating disorder. She is being cared for during the day by his wife, who had been hoping she could return to work after their youngest daughter went to school in November last year.
Their child's needs are very demanding. She needs help eating, staying awake and help with walking. This means his wife gives constant care each day.
Mr Cole doesn't believe his family will qualify for means-tested benefits, but can his wife claim any help for caring?
"At the moment she feels that nobody recognises the sacrifice she is making," Mr Cole writes.
Does not receive one of a list of other state benefits including state retirement pension and incapacity benefit. You do not say whether your daughter gets DLA.
 | DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION? |
This is a benefit for disabled people. It is split into two parts: a mobility component and a care component.
The mobility component is paid to people who have physical difficulties with walking, or who need another person to guide or supervise them out of doors.
The care component is paid at one of three rates. The lower rate is for people who are over 16 and cannot cook a main meal, or of any age and need personal care.
The middle and higher rates are for people who need substantial amounts of personal care.
The middle rate is for people who need care during the day or the night, the higher rate is for people who need day and night care.
Criteria
People under 16 must show that their care needs are significantly greater than those of an average child of a similar age who has no disabilities.
Many of the needs of your daughter are outlined in your question.
For instance: the help she needs to eat, to bathe, to stay awake and the help with walking. Help of this kind can count whether in the home or in a social setting.
Also, if her disabilities mean that special teaching methods must be used, or extra effort is required to help her to learn, this too could form part of the assessment of her personal care needs.
Your wife should claim carer's allowance at the same time as your daughter claims DLA.
| USEFUL CONTACTS Disability Living Allowance applications: 0800 882200 (0800 220674 in Northern Ireland) CarersLine on 0808 808 7777 |
DLA is a difficult benefit for the Department of Work and Pensions to process. Often, there are delays.
Your wife's claim for carer's allowance may not be allowed if this benefit is processed before the DLA.
However, if, once DLA has been awarded your wife re-claims carer's allowance, her second claim will be backdated to the date that her first claim was made.
Carers UK has information and advice about carer's benefits on its website (www.carersonline.org.uk) and also has a freephone telephone helpline for queries on carers' benefits and queries about carers' rights: 0808 808 7777 - open Wednesday and Thursday 10 am - 12.00 pm and 2.00 - 4.00 pm. 
The opinions expressed are those of the author and are not held by the BBC unless specifically stated. The material is for general information only and does not constitute investment, tax, legal or other form of advice. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation.
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Your wife may be able to claim carer's allowance. She will be able to do so only if: 
