Support services available to carers
Caring for someone can take its toll on your physical and mental health, social life, career and relationships. Taking time out to look after yourself is important if you’re to continue supporting yourself and the person you’re caring for. Here are some of the different types of support available
Help is at hand
You’re entitled to a range of support services, many of which are provided free through social services.
- Time out. Short breaks from your caring role, including respite care, can give you a chance to recharge your batteries
- Practical help. Things that perhaps used to be simple, such as housework, laundry, grocery shopping or gardening, which can become a strain when you’re caring for someone
- Modifications. Equipment or alterations to the home that can make life easier
- Emotional support. Whether it’s in the form of professional counselling or just someone to talk to on a regular basis
- Advocacy. Having someone to speak on your behalf
To access many of these services you’ll first need to complete a carer’s assessment.
What is a carer’s assessment?
You can speak to a Carers Direct helpline adviser on 0808 802 0202 if you would like help with finding local support
Whether you care for someone full time or just a few hours a week, share your caring role with others or do it all alone, you’re entitled to a carer’s assessment. It’s your chance to discuss with a social worker what help you might need with caring for a friend or relative. It lets the social worker assess your unique situation and see whether you’re entitled to any services that would make caring easier for you
The carer’s assessment can be carried out at your home or the home of the person you’re caring for. You can attend the meeting alone or with a friend or member of your family – the person you care for doesn’t need to be there
To make the most of your carer’s assessment, it’s a good idea to consider the impact caring has on your life before the meeting, so you can tell the social worker everything they need to know. You could try keeping a note in your diary of things like:
- Sleep. Whether you get enough and if your caring role impacts on this.
- Health. If you’re keeping well and how caring affects this.
- Career. Whether caring is having an impact on your job and if you’re concerned about this.
- Social life and personal time. If you get enough time to spend with your family, your friends and to look after yourself.
What happens after you’ve been assessed?
Your needs will be compared against a nationally agreed set of criteria to see if they are substantial enough to qualify for help. If you are eligible to receive help, social services will create a support plan for you. It might also include additional care for the person you’re caring for, if required.
The local authority can charge you for some of the services you receive but they can’t charge you for any services that the person you care for gets. You may need to have a separate financial assessment to assess what you can afford to pay.
If the council thinks that your caring needs aren’t great enough to qualify for financial support, they must still give you advice and information on where you can go to get help from charities or other local organisations.
If you’re eligible for financial support
If you’re eligible for financial support you will be given a personal budget. You can then choose to:
- receive direct payments and decide for yourself which providers to use for the services you want
- let the council arrange the services for you – although you won’t have to deal with the paperwork, you will be limited to the services the council provides
You must ensure that the funding is used to meet your own needs. You can’t use it to buy services for the person you’re caring for.
If you’re not eligible for financial support
If you have to pay for carers’ services yourself, you will still be given an independent personal budget. The council will use this to keep track of the care you are giving to the person you look after.
How to apply for a carer’s assessment
If you’re in England, Scotland or Wales, you’ll need to speak to the social services department of the local council responsible for the person you’re caring for.
If you’re in Northern Ireland, you’ll need to speak to the Health and Social Care Trust of the person you’re caring for.
Your choices after you’ve been assessed?
Once your care plan has been agreed, you’ll be given funding to pay for the services it outlines. You then have a choice. You can either:
receive the funding as a personal budget, in which case you’ll receive direct payments and decide for yourself which providers to use for what services, or
leave it to the council to purchase the services for you
Either way, you must ensure that the funding is used to meet your own needs. You can’t use it to buy services for the person you’re caring for
Direct payments
If you opt to receive direct payments from the council, you’ll need to purchase the care services outlined in your care plan yourself. This gives you the flexibility to choose your own providers, and more choice in how your needs are met
However, with these benefits come additional responsibilities.
Records. You must keep accurate and detailed information (including receipts or invoices) of how the money is spent, and provide these to social services.
Costs. If you don’t keep accurate records or buy services that aren’t covered by your care plan, you will have to pay for the care yourself.
Employment responsibilities. If you employ someone directly, you’ll need to take on the legal responsibilities of contracts, as well as deducting tax and National Insurance contributions from their pay.
Council services
Case study:“I’ve spent the last three years looking after Mum. I didn’t ever think people would be interested in helping me. But the people at the council were fantastic, and arranged for me to get a break.” – Diane
If you opt for the council to deliver and pay for support services on your behalf, you’ll avoid the administrative responsibilities of managing direct payments. However, you will be limited to the services and suppliers the council already has contracts with
Other support options available for carers
Alongside carer’s assessments, there are several other benefits, tax credits and other financial support you might be entitled to as a carer
Benefits and tax credits you can claim as a carer
myageingparent has teamed up with Grace Consulting to offer you expert care advice
Grace Consulting provides affordable fee-based independent advice to help you choose the best care option to suit you and your relative’s needs and wishes. Our Care Advisers provide the knowledge and support you need to make the right decision for you and your family. myageingparent.com is partnering with Grace Consulting, the UK’s leading provider of personalised independent care advice, who, for over 40 years, has specialised in finding the best possible care for older people. Please note this is not an Age Concern or Age UK service.
Call now on 01483 209626 to get the help and advice you need at our preferential discounted rates
Or fill in the form and we will contact you,
Are you employing a carer at home? If so, you will need to manage their PAYE and National Insurance as an employer. To minimise the hassle involved, myageingparent has partnered with Taxing Carers to give expert advice and help.
To find out more, call 0208 882 6847 or fill in the form below:
Disclaimer: All services are provided by Taxing Carers and myageingparent.com has no responsibility or liability for the services provided by Taxing Carers. All requests and complaints should be addressed directly to Taxing Carers. myageingparent.com bears no responsibility for goods and services purchased via third parties featured on this website.
Other information resources
Try the Help and advice section of the Carers UK website
Refer to the Carers Trust website
Find out more about mental health issues on the Mind website
This article is provided by the Money Advice Service.
