Are you looking after someone? Do you know your rights?

Advice and Information - 25 November 2021

Each year on November 25th we celebrate a Carers Rights Day.
carers

We celebrate and support Carer’s every day, but on Carer’s Rights Day organisations across the UK come together to help carers know their rights and find out how to get the help and support they are entitled to.

Carers Rights Day Facts

  • Unpaid carers saved the UK around £135 billion over the course of the pandemic
  • In a recent survey, 78% of carers reported that their caring responsibilities had increased this year
  • Every day, 6,000 people become carers
  • 1 in 9 people in Kent are currently looking after someone. That’s more 151,000 people

Don’t struggle alone

Very few people will have had time to plan or prepare for becoming a carer, but there is help and support available to you.

Carers UK suggest you try the following steps  

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.

You can get a personalised benefits check online. It will take about 20 minutes to complete.

Go to benefits calculator

Turn2us Benefits Calculator - Carers UK

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 from Kent County Council what practical support is available. This support could include equipment to make caring easier or information about the many 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.

You can find out more information and how to book an assessment here

Support for carers - Kent County Council

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. Wherever you live in Kent, there will be support groups near you.  

To find the one for you visit Kent Carers Matter Home - Kent Carers Matter