Support for carers

Understanding the support available

There are steps you can take to reduce some of the pressure you might have on your shoulders as a carer, from your local authority, charity organisations and actions to protect your own wellbeing.

Carers Assessments
Respite care
Looking after yourself

Carers Assessments

If you are over 18 and provide regular unpaid care, you are entitled to a free carer’s assessment. It doesn’t matter what care you provide, and you don’t even need to care for a minimum number of hours a week.

This assessment will consider what care and assistance you are currently providing, what you are beginning to struggle with and then explore in what ways you can be supported as a carer.

Following the assessment you may be offered some additional support, including:

home help services, such as cleaning

specialist training for you as a carer, for example to help you move the person safely

equipment or alterations around the home to make caring easier

access to counselling services

respite care for the person you support, so that you can spend time on yourself

benefit guidance

referrals to local carer support services

You can find details for your local authority to request a carers assessment, here: www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
Respite care

Sometimes, long-term care at home or a permanent move to a care home may not be necessary. Short-term respite care might be just the thing to help the person you care for recover after a stay in hospital or give you a break from caring.

You can read more about finding care services.

Temporary care from the NHS

If the person you care for has recently had a stay in hospital, the NHS may offer to sort out care to help them get back on your feet at home or in a care home. It’s free, usually lasts for up to six weeks, support you as their carer and help to reduce the chances they’ll need to go back into hospital.

Re-ablement care from your local authority

Similar to intermediate care, re-ablement offers support at home or in a care home for up to six weeks. It’s paid for by your local authority to help the person rebuild their confidence and live independently once they return home.

Paying for temporary care

To begin with, it’s always worth approaching the local authority or the person requiring care to ask about respite care. Some have voucher schemes offering a certain amount of free or reduced-price respite care at home or in a care home throughout the year.

If their local authority doesn’t have any support like this, then they can charge for any care they arrange. For short-term care in a care home for up to eight weeks or temporary care up to 52 weeks, they can’t consider the value of the property when they decide how much should be paid. They must also make sure the person is left with enough of your income to cover the cost of maintaining their home, so it’s in a fit state when they’re ready to return.
Looking after yourself

Talk to someone

Talk to someone about how you feel is simple but can be surprisingly effective for your wellbeing. Sharing your feelings can help to reduce isolation and might help you get another perspective on any issues you might have. Try talking to someone you trust about how you feel, even if it feels difficult at first.

Support from your employer

Since April 2024, all employers must offer one week of unpaid carers leave. Additionally, you have a right to request flexible working and many employers offer a range of benefits that can help support their working carers, such as Employee Assistance Programmes, Private Medical Insurance, Care Concierge services and Carers Networks.

Finances

If you are providing regular unpaid care, both you and the person you support may be eligible for assistance through state benefits such as Carers Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payments, Universal Credit, Council Tax Reductions and more.

You can read more about these benefits.

Further support

There are a number of organisations that specialise in supporting carers at a national and local level:

Carers UK offer a national helpline and a searchable database of local carer support services.
Carers Trust have a nationwide membership network, which you can search to find your local carers charity.
Mobilise provide a free online carers network, allowing you to connect with thousands of other carers.

Finding care

Whether you need some help at home or want to find out more about Care Homes in your area, we have information on where to search and what questions to ask.

Finding the right care

Care needs assessment

Your local authority could help you to get the right support in place, whether you’re in need of care yourself or looking after someone else.

Local authority assessments

State benefits

There may be benefits available to give you a little extra helps if you need care.

State benefits

Support for carers

Carers Assessments

Respite care

Looking after yourself

Finding care

Care needs assessment

State benefits