frequently asked questions

support questions

Can caba pay for my ICAEW membership fees?

If you’re struggling to pay your subscriptions, we're able to offer financial assistance which is means tested based on your household income. Whatever your situation, we're always here to offer advice to help you manage your finances.

Can caba provide me with legal advice?

If you’re based in the UK, Europe and Australia and you have a question about your legal rights or you want to get advice on a legal situation, we give you access to free telephone legal advice. For those in the UK, this advice is provided by Law Express (English and Welsh law).  

For more information, please get in touch. Our team will ask you what area of law you would like help with and will arrange for you to speak to an experienced adviser in as little as two hours. This may differ for those in Europe and Australia. You can also access free online legal information covering a wide range of topics using our legal factsheets also provided by Law Express.  

*Please note: we don’t provide financial support towards legal costs and cannot represent people legally. Our legal advice service doesn’t cover all of Europe. 

Does caba help with debt repayments?

We can’t fund debt repayments. However, we do provide debt advice and we can help you explore options to help manage your debt. We can also help negotiate with creditors over repayments and support you in some basic legal proceedings if needed. You may still wish to have legal representation.

Does caba help with care home top up fees?

In some circumstances we’re able to offer support with the 'top up' fees of residential care. To find out if you or someone you care for is eligible for this support, please contact us.

general questions

Who is eligible for support?

We support past and present members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW), ACA students, ICAEW staff members, and the family and carers of members and students. 

  1. No matter where your career takes you, past and present members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England Wales (ICAEW) are eligible for caba’s services for life, even if you change your career and leave accountancy 
  2. ACA students (ICAEW Provisional Members) who are either an active student or have been an active student within the last three years are eligible for caba's services 
  3. Past and present staff members of the ICAEW or caba are eligible for caba's services for life, even if you leave either organisation. Please note, for former employees, our financial support is only available to those who have had five years continuous employment with either organisation 
  4. Family members and carers of either an eligible past or present ICAEW member, ACA student or past or present employee of the ICAEW or caba are eligible for caba's support. We define a family member as a: 
    1. spouse, civil partner or cohabiting partner 
    2. widow, widower or surviving civil partner who has not remarried or cohabiting with a partner 
    3. divorced spouse or civil partner who has not remarried or cohabiting with a partner 
    4. child aged up to 25. Please note, children aged between 16 and 25 are not eligible for individual financial support 
    5. any other person who is dependent on the eligible individual supporting them financially or are reliant on the eligible individual’s care 
    6. any other person on whom the eligible individual is reliant, either financially or for care 

You can find out more about our available support both in the UK and around the world on our support we offer  page. 

Are your services means-tested?

If you need financial support, we carry out a means test where we consider income, expenditure, capital and assets.  

*Please note none of our other services are means-tested. 

I’m an accountant, but not a member of ICAEW, can you still help?

Unfortunately not. We only support past and present ICAEW members, their carers and their families. If we are unable to support you, where possible we will point you to help elsewhere.

caba has supported me in the past; can I receive support from caba again?

We understand that circumstances change. If we’ve helped you in the past there’s no reason why we can’t help you again. You can contact us at any time. Please call us if you need our help.

Will caba support me if I live outside the UK?

If you’re eligible for our support, we’ll support you wherever you live. 

Do I have to donate to caba to access its support?

Our services are free and you don’t have to donate to be eligible for our support. Donations are entirely voluntary.

If I ask caba for help will ICAEW be told?

Absolutely not. Whilst we support the ICAEW community we are entirely independent so you can talk to us in complete confidence.

Will information I give to caba remain confidential?

We provide confidential and impartial advice and support. Everything you tell us stays with us in strict confidence. We won't disclose any of your details to a third party organisation without informing you first and we never share client information with ICAEW. For full details on how we process your data please refer to our privacy statement.

Is caba part of ICAEW?

No. We support the ICAEW community but we’re independent and don’t share information about the people who contact us.

donating questions

How do I Gift Aid my donations?

If you donate online you will be given the option to Gift Aid your donation.

If you would like to donate by cheque or any other method you will need to sign and return a  Gift Aid declaration form to us.

How do I cancel a standing order to caba?

Please contact the bank from which the standing order is set up. We are unable to instruct the bank on your behalf.

How do I set up a standing order for my donations?

Download and complete a standing order form found here, then send it to your bank.

Can I donate by direct debit?

Not yet, but we’re working on this. You can arrange a standing order by downloading and completing a standing order form found here, then sending it to your bank.

How do I donate to caba?

You can donate online here, or by post. If you wish, you can also leave a legacy in your will. Please contact your solicitor if you want to leave a bequest in your will. 

 my caba questions

I registered online but the email with the verification code hasn’t arrived

Please check your spam or junk folder. If the code has expired, follow the forgotten password instruction below.

I’ve forgotten my password

Click the forgotten password link on the login page and enter the email address you used to register for my caba. You’ll get an email with a personalised link for you to set a new password.

My password doesn’t work, but I’m sure it’s correct

Check if you have caps lock on by mistake. If it’s still not working, click the forgotten password link on the login page and set a new password.

I know my password but I want to change it

Log in and select my profiles and preferences. You can change your password in the reset password link on the right.

I’m logged in, but I can’t book a webinar

You need to be eligible for support to book a webinar. We usually match the information from your registration form to our database to confirm that you’re eligible. If we can’t match your details, the checking process can take up to seven working days. We’ll let you know when our checks are complete. We might need to get in touch with you for more information. If you’re still waiting after seven working days, email us for an update.

I’m not eligible for support, can I still register for a my caba account?

Yes. my caba is available to everyone with a unique email address. You’ll be able to access advice and information articles, complete e-learning courses and donate to caba online.

I’m logged in but I can’t join as a caba member online

Only current and past ICAEW members and ACA students can become a caba member. If you've just created your account, we may still be checking that your membership. The process can take up to seven working days. Once it’s complete, you’ll be able to apply online to become a caba member.

Do I need to register to donate to caba?

Yes. The registration process checks your email address and reduces fraudulent online transactions from criminals checking stolen card details.