Half of carers providing substantial care to a disabled, seriously-ill or older loved one in the UK may be missing out on vital support*, according to new research by the charity Carers UK. The findings come on Carers Rights Day – a national awareness day organised by the charity to inform the UK’s 6.5 million unpaid carers of their rights, benefits and the services they are entitled to.
Carers UK is calling on the public to help people who they know are caring for an older, disabled or seriously-ill loved one to make sure they find out about what they are entitled to and what support is available to them.
A survey by the charity of almost 5,000 carers in the UK found that half of those (50%) who provide 35 hours or more care a week have not had a Carer’s Assessment from their local authority. This is despite all carers who provide regular or substantial care being entitled to a Carer’s Assessment at the point the survey was carried out. Since the survey was conducted, new legislation has been introduced across the UK to strengthen carer’s rights to this support.
A Carer’s Assessment is an important step towards getting the support you need as a carer; as is getting the right financial information and advice. Previous studies by the charity show that £1.1 billion of Carer’s Allowance (the main benefit for carers) goes unclaimed every year and a recent report from the Department for Work and Pensions found that 95% of carers who are entitled to Carer’s Credit, which provides National Insurance contributions for those who have taken time out from work to care, are not claiming it.
In order to ensure carers are able to get the information and support they need, when they need it, Carers UK is today launching Upfront – the first online guide of its kind to give tailored financial and practical information to those who are new to caring. The charity is also publishing its annual Carers Rights Guide, which gives up-to-date information on carers’ rights and signposts them to support services, and Being Heard self-advocacy toolkit, to help carers navigate a confusing system, get their message across in difficult situations and cope with complex thoughts and emotions.
Heléna Herklots, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:
“Important developments in the rights of carers mean it’s never been more important to make sure carers get the right information and advice about what they’re entitled to, when they need it. Helping carers to know their rights is at the heart of everything we do at Carers UK; we offer expert information and advice through our website and Adviceline, and connect carers to one another through our online forum to ensure that no-one has to care alone. So if you know someone who is caring for a loved one, connect them to Carers UK this Carers Rights Day.
“Every year, 2.1 million people begin caring for a disabled, older or seriously-ill loved one in the UK. Taking on a new caring role can happen quite suddenly and can turn many families’ lives upside down. It could be that a partner has a stroke, a parent has a fall, or a child is born with a disability. When people take on a new caring role, they worryingly tell us that it can be really difficult to get the help and advice they need. Without this support, caring can take a serious toll on a person’s health, finances and wellbeing.
“That’s why we’ve created Upfront – the first online guide of its kind to give tailored financial and practical information to those who are new to caring. We are also publishing our annual Carers Rights Guide to make sure carers are informed about any changes to their rights and know where to go to get the support they need. This Carers Rights Day, you can make a positive difference to the life of a carer by connecting them to Carers UK.”
Hundreds of events are taking place in communities throughout the UK today to help carers find out more about their rights.
Find out more about how Carers UK can help you:
- Carers UK’s new online guide to caring, Upfront, can be accessed here: www.carersuk.org/upfront
- Carers UK’s Carers Rights Guide can be downloaded from today at www.carersuk.org/
carersrightsguide. Four versions of the guide are available for carers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. You can order a free print copy of the guide by calling Carers UK’s Adviceline on 0808 808 7777 or emailing advice@carersuk.org - You can contact the Carers UK Adviceline on 0808 808 7777 or advice@carersuk.org (Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm)
