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Other help for carers

Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

If you are caring for someone who is ill, elderly or with a disability, you may get help, on top of the benefits you might qualify for.  For example, you might get:

• help from your local council (see below)
• travel concessions (see below)

In addition, the person you are caring for might get benefits that they can use to pay you for the care you give them.  For more information about benefits available to people who are sick or disabled, go to the section on People who are sick or have a disability.

Help from your local council

As a carer, you have the right to have your own needs assessed – either as part of the assessment of the disabled person, or in your own right.  Depending on your own circumstances and what is available in your local area, your local council should provide services to help you in your role as a carer.  This might include:

• regular breaks from caring
• equipment and adaptation to your home to make some caring tasks easier to manage
• help with the housework.

Contact your local council (link opens in a new window) to get an assessment of your needs (known as a Carer's Assessment). Once you have been assessed, they will draw up a care plan.  You may have to pay for some of the help you need.  This depends on your income and savings.  

Travel concessions

You might get travel concessions to accompany the person you care for when you go somewhere on public transport. For example, if the person has a Disabled Person's Railcard (link opens in a new window), this qualifies you to a discount when you travel with them by train.

Further help

There are lots of organisations to help carers. You could: