Carers Rights
Most of us will provide unpaid care for someone who is older, disabled or seriously ill at some point in our lives.
This year’s theme for Carers Rights Day on Thursday 26 November is Know Your Rights. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of caring, affecting access to support and services, and physical and mental health.
To help you know what you are entitled to, you can read the latest ‘Looking after someone’ guide, which gives carers the full picture of the practical and financial support available to them every year. The latest 2020-21 guide can be found at carersuk.org/LAS
Here is a taster, with three important steps you can take to find out what you are entitled to:
- Get a benefits check
Carer’s Allowance is the main benefit for carers. But not everyone is eligible to claim it, so it’s a good idea to arrange a benefits check to see what financial support you may be entitled to. You can also use the Turn2us benefits calculator on the Carers UK website
For information about what financial support is available, visit carersuk.org, email advice@carersuk.org, visit the Turn2us website (turn2us.org.uk) or contact your local Citizens Advice.
- Find out about practical support
You may need practical support to help you care, like short breaks, equipment to help make caring easier or information about local groups that can help.
All carers are entitled to a carer’s assessment from their local council which could lead to you receiving extra support from social care services to help with caring. The assessment will look at how caring affects your life, including your physical, mental and emotional needs, and whether you are able or willing to carry on caring.
Contact your local council social services department for a carer’s assessment or visit carersuk.org/assessment for more information.
- Connect with other carers
When we’re looking after someone, it’s not always easy to find people who really know what caring is like and are able to give us help and understanding. A listening, understanding ear can go a long way.
In normal times, we would be signposting you to the MS Carers Lunch Club but at the moment it is paused due to Covid. We will let you know when this is back running.
Many carers also find online forums a huge source of support – a place where you can share what’s on your mind, anytime of the day or night, with other carers who understand what you are going through. Find out more about the Carers UK Forum
We would like to thank the Neuro Therapy Centre who support people with conditions including MS, Parkinson’s, MND and ME across North Wales, Cheshire and the Wirral for giving us permission to share this information which they have put together.
