What support can I get as a carer?
If you provide unpaid care for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, or another problem, cannot cope without support, you may be entitled to help.
To help you access financial and practical support, we share three steps Carers UK suggests you can take.
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 primary 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.
2. Find out about practical support
Caring for a loved one can be very physically and mentally demanding, so finding out what practical support is available is crucial. This support could include equipment to make caring easier or information about local support groups that can help.
All carers are entitled to a carer's assessment . This could result in the carer, or the person they are caring for, being able to get additional help or support.
Contact Sheffield Carers Centre who can carryout an assessment.
0114 2728362
3. Connect with others
Caring can be very isolating, but you can connect with people in similar situations in many different ways. You can find local support groups to attend in person or benefit from the wealth of online forums.
To learn more about your rights, tailored to your situation, take a look at Upfront - Carers UK's online tool, or check out their online meetups if you fancy a cup of tea and chat.
Further information for carers
Sheffield Carers Centre - is a local independent charity founded in 1994, that is also affiliated to the national Carers Trust charity. They provide a range of high quality services to unpaid adult carers in Sheffield.
Sheffield Young Carers- support to children and young people aged 8-25 who live in Sheffield who are young carers.
Carers UK - provides information and advice on caring, help carers connect with each other, campaign with carers for lasting change, and use innovation to improve services.
