The terms Break Allowance and Credit refer to two distinct aspects of accessing short breaks, which are managed differently within a calendar year.
The Break Allowance is the maximum number of breaks an individual carer is eligible to take within a specific time frame.
Definition: This refers to the opportunity for a carer to take a break.
Current Policy: The allowance is currently set at 1 break per calendar year.
Timeframe: The calendar year typically runs from January to December.
Usage: Once a break has been successfully taken, the allowance for the current calendar year is considered used.
A Credit is a financial allocation that is assigned to you in specific circumstances and can be used toward future break requests.
Definition: This is the conversion of the administrative fee paid for a break when the request cannot be fulfilled.
Assignment: Credit is assigned in the case of a cancellation or a declined break request.
Usage: This credit can then be applied to the admin fee for a new break request.
Summary of the Difference
Feature | Break Allowance | Credit |
What It Is | The maximum number of breaks you can take per year. | A monetary value assigned after a failed break request (cancellation or declined request) or purchased in advance. |
Current Limit | One break per calendar year (Jan - Dec). | The equivalent of the administrative fee (currently £33, increasing to £38 from January 2026). |
Trigger | Successfully taking a break. | A break request being cancelled or declined. |
Essentially, the Break Allowance controls how many breaks you can physically take in a year, while Credit ensures the admin fee you paid for an unsuccessful break request is not lost and can be used toward your next request.