Know Your Rights

Today is Carers Rights Day and the theme is 'Know Your Rights'.

The restrictions, lockdowns and uncertainty throughout 2020 have left many of us at sixes and sevens!

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on unpaid carers has been huge, affecting their access to support and services, their finances, and their physical and mental health.

It can be a struggle to navigate the maze of services and entitlements at the best of times, and this year the struggle has been magnified by the pandemic response. This can result in carers missing out on financial and practical support. 

Caring brings all kinds of challenges and it’s important that carers know where to turn for advice, information and support.

Contacting your local carer’s organisation for help is one of the first steps you should take on your caring journey. Our Support Workers remain available to help carers over the phone or via email.

You can also access a wide range of information on our website – just type what you are looking for in the search bar at the top of the page.

Looking after someone - information and support for carers

Carers UK ‘Looking after someone’ guide is a fantastic source of information and outlines your rights as a carer as well as providing an overview of the practical and financial support available.

The guide covers getting help and support, finances and work. It includes:

• A Carer’s Guide: an illustrated introduction to the challenges of caring, from making difficult decisions to looking after your health and wellbeing.
• Benefits: an overview of which benefits you or the person you care for may be entitled to and information about how to get a benefits check.
• Other financial help: including help with council tax, fuel costs, pensions and health costs.
• Practical help: including community care assessment, carer's assessment and direct payments.
• Technology: information about health and care technology that could make life easier for you and the person you care for.
• Your workplace: your rights at work, from flexible working and parental leave to protection from discrimination.
• Other help: how to find other help nationally and in your local community.

You can download a copy of the guide here - https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/get-resources/looking-after-someone

You can access a wealth of information online, below are some useful links:

Carers UK http://www.carersuk.org/

Carers Trust http://www.carers.org/

Citizens Advice Allerdale  http://www.allerdalecab.org.uk/

Citizens Advice Copeland https://citizensadvicecopeland.org.uk/

Department for Work & Pensions https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions

Having the right information at the right time can make a huge difference when you are looking after someone.