What are carers rights?
Who counts as an unpaid carer?
Unpaid carers are people who provide caregiving for another person without being paid to do so. They might be family or friends and might not recognise themselves as a carer. This is because they consider their actions as simply supporting a loved one or friend. However, if the person’s wellbeing or safety depends on you, you’re considered a carer. According to Sense, “if you spend a significant amount of time caring for someone who is disabled, ill or has mental health issues, then you could be considered a carer.”
Your right to a carer’s assessment
“Whatever the circumstances, if you look after someone who needs support because they’re ill or disabled, then you’re a carer,” say Age UK. “It’s important to acknowledge that you’re a carer because it means you could get extra support – such as financial benefits or flexible working arrangements.”
How to request one
To request a carer’s assessment, you should go to your local council’s website and search for ‘carer’s assessment’. Alternatively, phone them and ask to speak to someone in adult social services who can advise you on getting a carer’s assessment.
What the assessment covers
The carer’s assessment will cover areas such as finding time for yourself, the effect caring is having on your health and wellbeing, how it affects your relationships, and whether the person you’re caring for is getting enough help and support with their condition.
What support is offered
You can be offered both practical and financial support to help you with your caring responsibilities, such as local carers’ organisations, respite services, and information about applying for carer’s allowance to help with caring expenses.
Financial support for carers
Caring for adult family members may incur expenses that you can’t afford, such as time off work, additional childcare costs, petrol, and parking charges. You shouldn’t have to meet these costs so you should explore financial support available for carers.
Carer's Allowance
If you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits you could be receiving carer’s allowance. You do not have to live in the same house as them and you don’t need to be related. You can make a claim online on the gov.uk website.
Carer's Credit
If you care for someone else for 20 hours a week you could receive a National Insurance (NI) credit that helps with gaps in your NI record. Our NI record is what allows us to qualify for state pension. Income, savings and investments don’t affect eligibility.
Council tax and other help
If you qualify for carer’s allowance you may also be eligible for other support, depending on your circumstances. This includes Council Tax reduction, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, as well as grants and bursaries to help with the costs of training and courses.
Your rights at work
No-one who cares for a loved one should be put under additional pressure because of an employer’s attitude to their situation. Carers in the UK have statutory rights to flexible working, unpaid carer’s leave, emergency time off, and protection against discrimination.
Carer's Leave
If you are providing care for a dependant and you’re an employee based in England, Wales and Scotland, “you now have the right to take a week’s unpaid carer’s leave per year” says Carers UK. This is available to request from your first day of employment.
Flexible working requests
According to Carers UK, “All employees based in England, Wales or Scotland have a right to request a flexible working arrangement from the first day of employment. You can make two requests over a 12-month period (law from 6 April 2024).”
Protection from discrimination
“If you are looking after someone who is elderly or disabled, the law – under the Equality Act 2010 – will protect you against direct discrimination or harassment because of your caring responsibilities” says Carers UK. This applies in England, Wales & Scotland.
Your right to a break
Every carer needs to take a regular break. Caring for someone else can be immensely rewarding but physically and emotionally exhausting at times. This is why investigating care options in your local area is a good idea.
Respite care
Respite care provides short-term support, giving carers a break while ensuring the person they care for still receives the help they require. Helping Hands provides respite care at home meaning the person can continue living in the place they love best.
Emergency respite
Emergency respite care is when a replacement carer can be in place within 24 hours. Because we’ve been providing care for elderly and vulnerable adults since we were established in 1989, you can be sure we’re the only choice for emergency care at home.
Your rights when the person you care for is in hospital
It’s important to notify people who need to know, when the person you care for is in hospital. This matters practically (if you’re claiming carers’ benefits for instance) but also to ensure that your own wellbeing is supported while they’re there.
Being involved in discharge planning
If the person you care for now has additional needs as a result of their hospital stay, it can be hard to admit you’ll struggle to manage. “It can take courage to admit this to yourself and then share your concerns with others, but it really is in everyone’s best interests long term,” say Carers First. “Speaking with the hospital carer liaison officer or one of the medical professionals involved about your worries is a good first step.”
Making decisions on someone else's behalf
Sometimes carers will have to make decisions on behalf of someone that they care for. This is usually because they have been granted Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) because the person is no longer able to make decisions in their own best interest. This is usually due to a condition such as dementia, a severe learning disability, a brain injury, a mental health condition, or a stroke. Sometimes, a person will be bale to make certain decisions in their life, such as groceries they wish to buy or what clothes to wear, while lacking the capacity to make complex financial or health decisions for themselves.
Taking the break you are entitled to with Helping Hands
Helping Hands is one of the UK’s most trusted home care companies. For 37 years we’ve been supporting people to continue living independently in their own homes while enjoying the community they love. Carers trust us because we’re passionate about exceptional care, whether you need us for a few hours a week or around the clock.
Planned respite care
Planning respite care in the person’s home means that they continue living where they want to be and don’t have to move into temporary residential care. This matters because consistency and familiarity are important, especially if the person is living with a condition such as dementia.
Emergency care at short notice
We should always be the first call when you need care in a hurry for a loved one. We offer visiting and live-in care on a temporary respite basis, which can be in your loved one’s home within 24 hours in many cases. Our carers are carefully selected, screened and trained, and employed directly by us too.
Talking to our team
If you would like to learn more about temporary or permanent care at home from Helping Hands you can contact us online, on the phone, or in-person. We’re available seven days a week to answer your questions or arrange respite care, and our local branch teams will do the same.
FAQs
If you are providing essential support for someone else whose physical or emotional wellbeing or safety depends on you then you should consider yourself a carer.
It’s important that you recognise your caregiving status for the benefit of your own wellbeing, as well as practical reason such as accessing financial and practical support.
You should contact the adult social care team at your local authority to request a free carer’s assessment.
It depends on your circumstances, but if you are an unpaid carer then you may well be able to access financial help in the form of carer’s allowance or carer’s credit.
If you are struggling to manage your loved one’s care, then you should speak to their local adult social services team. They will be able to send a social worker to visit your loved one and see what support could be offered. You could also contact Helping Hands to discover how visiting or live-in care could make a huge difference to their – and your – daily life.