Who is a carer?
A carer as defined in the Care Act 2014 is ‘an adult who provides or intends to provide care for another adult’. This is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.
You are a carer if you provide undpaid care for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.
What about if I am a young carer?
A young carer is someone aged 18 or under who helps look after a relative who has a condition, such as a disability, illness, mental health condition, or a drug or alcohol problem. As a young carer you are also entitled to an assessment of your needs.
For further information, visit Bristol City Council’s webpage
Carers rights:
- Assessment – Under the Care Act 2014, carers have a right to an assessment, even if the person cared for has declined. If carers are assessed as eligible, they are entitled to support. Carers can request this themselves or anyone can refer in with the carers consent. This could help carers to access a arrange of support including support with accessing work, education or getting a break.
- Carers allowance – Carers’ allowance is £62.10 per week. To qualify you must spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a disabled person. Click here for further information
- Flexible working - If you’re working as well as caring for someone, you have the right to request flexible working arrangements to help you fulfil your responsibilities. You can make 1 request a year subject to your employers agreement. For further information please follow this link
- Pension - If you care for someone for at least 20 hours per week, you could get Carer’s Credit. This helps build to build your entitlement to basic and additional State Pension. Carer’s Credit is a weekly National Insurance credit for carers that you will automatically get if you receive Carer’s Allowance. For further information please follow this link
Click here for further information on your rights as a carer and what support is available.
Click here to complete out Carer Experience Questionnaire to tell us more about whether we are doing enough to support you.
Support for Carers in Bristol and South Gloucestershire:
Carers Support Centre is a registered charity providing a range of practical services for carers of any age in Bristol. They have a confidential telephone support line for carers, as well as a regular newsletter, and also provide links to Carers Emergency Cards, carers assessments, support groups, breaks, training and activities for carers. Contact them on 0117 965 2200 or at www.carerssupportcentre.org.uk.
Contact Bristol City Council’s Care Direct on 0117 922 2700 if you care for someone who needs social care support, either to talk about their needs or your own.
If you want to talk about a Carers Assessment for yourself, you can contact the Integrated Carers Team at Bristol City Council, on 0117 352 1668 or look at the Council website: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/social-care-health/carers
Download our leaflet