Many people who provide unpaid care are unaware of their rights. Find out more about the help and support you are entitled to.
If you provide unpaid care for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, or another problem, cannot cope without support, you may be entitled to help.
To help you access financial and practical support, we share three steps Carers UK suggests you can take.
1. Get a benefits check
Get a full benefits check to see what financial support you may be entitled to. The Carer's Allowance is the primary carer's benefit, but this could also include tax credits, council tax discounts or help with fuel costs.
You can get a personalised benefits check online. It will take about 20 minutes to complete.
2. Find out about practical support
Caring for a loved one can be very physically and mentally demanding, so finding out from your local council what practical support is available is crucial. This support could include equipment to make caring easier or information about local support groups that can help.
All carers are entitled to a carer's assessment from their local council. This could result in the carer, or the person they are caring for, being able to get additional help or support.
Contact adult social services at your local council and ask for a carer's assessment to find out more.
Information and advice for carers living in Somerset
3. Connect with others
Caring can be very isolating, but you can connect with people in similar situations in many different ways. You can find local support groups to attend in person or benefit from the wealth of online forums.
To learn more about your rights, tailored to your situation, take a look at Upfront - Carers UK's online tool, or check out their online meetups if you fancy a cup of tea and chat.
Further information for carers
Carers UK have a wide range of support, including:
Financial support, including information on all benefits available.
Practical support, including information around a carers assessment.
Support for workers, including your rights and support you are entitled to from your employer.
Health and wellbeing, including information around taking a break and dealing with depression and stress.
Technology and equipment, including information on how technology can help you.
Carers UK also offers a directory of support to help you find local carer organisations and a source of support near your home.