Carers information

Are you a carer?

A carer is a person who provides help and support on a regular basis to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour who is frail, has a physical or mental illness, disability or issues with substance misuse. The carer is not employed to provide this help but does so to improve the quality of that person’s life.

If this sounds like you, you are entitled to a range of services and support in your caring role. It is useful if you register as a carer with us.

We can help direct you towards organisations that can help support you. It also helps us if we know that you may be acting on behalf of another person and can arrange to disclose results of medical tests etc. We will also offer influenza vaccinations to carers to help them avoid an illness that may prevent them from carrying out their role as a carer.

There is a wealth of information on the NHS website about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.

• A guide to care and support – Information for carers and people who have care & support needs.
• Caring for someone – Advice on providing care, medicines etc.
• Care after hospital – Providing care for people who have been recently discharged from hospital.
• Taking a break – Caring for someone can be a full-time job. Find out about accessing breaks and respite care.
• Work and disability – Guidance, support and help with employment issues.
• Being a young carer – Advice for carers 18 or under and their entitlement to support.

Finance and law

Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.

• Benefits for carers – Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role.
• Benefits for the under-65s – Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to.
• Benefits for the over-65s – Advice and information on financial support for older people with a disability or illness.
• Carer’s Assessment – How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits.
• Other benefits – Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring.

You may also find these organisations below useful:

• Carers helpline information

  Free confidential information and advice for carers.
  
  Website
  Social care telephone helplines and forums

• Gloucester Carers Hub

  If you are seeking carer support or advice and guidance, please call the Gloucestershire Carers Hub provided by PeoplePlus.
  
  Phone
  0300 111 9000

• Carers UK

  Lines are open 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends.
  Calls are free from UK landlines.
  
  Phone
  0207 378 4999
  
  Email
  Online form