Looking after someone? Know your rights

Here we share Carers UK's three steps for carers to find out their entitlements.

Having the right information and advice is vital to ensure that carers don't miss out on financial and practical help that they are entitled to. As part of Carers Rights Day, we are promoting their top three steps for carers to find out their entitlements:

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 main carer's benefit, but this could also include tax credits, council tax discounts or help with fuel costs.

2. Find out about practical support

Caring for a loved one can be very physically and mentally demanding, so it's important to find out about what practical support is available. This could be anything from 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.

3. Connect with others

Caring can be very isolating, but there are lots of different ways that you can connect with people in similar situations. You can find local support groups for you to attend in person, or benefit from the wealth of online forums.

To find out more about your rights, tailored to your situation, take a look at Upfront - Carers UK's online tool, or read their Carers’ Rights Guide for more information.