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Caring for Someone |
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| The
Gateway to Services in the UK |
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A carer is someone who looks after a friend, relative or neighbour who needs help because of sickness, age or disability. Community care depends on carers, and carers are entitled to help themselves
Social
Services: You have the
right to ask the social service department for an assessment for your
disabled friend or relative. They may offer help such as a place at
a day centre, home help, adaptations to the home, meals or temporary
respite care in a residential or nursing home. Carers providing or intending
to provide a great deal of care regularly can request an assessment
of their ability to care and continue to caring at the same time as
the disabled person is assessed. If you cannot manage anymore , social
services may be able to arrange a permanent residential place for the
person you look after.
A Sitter: A
sitter to look after your friend or relative every so often can give
you a regular break. Many areas of the country have sit-in schemes such
as Crossroads, sometimes run by social services, but often by voluntary
organisations.
Benefits:
Disabled people who need a lot of help may be able to get either Attendance Allowance if they are over 65 or Disability Living Allowance if they are younger. If you look after a disabled person you may be able to claim Invalid Care Allowance, provided you meet certain income and age qualifications. If you are on low income, there may also be other benefits you can claim such as Income Support or Housing Benefit.
For advice visit your local Social Security office
Or call the Benefits Enquiry Line free on 0800 882200
Caring for someone ? (FB31) from your Social Security office
Concessions:-
Council Tax: Some carers and disabled people can get reductions in Council Tax (regardless of savings)
Income Tax: Married men with dependent children whose wives are severely disabled can get an additional personal tax allowance on top of their Married Couples Allowance.
A tax allowance announced in the 1998 budget extended this to mothers with dependent children and incapacitated husbands, backdated to April 1997.
Someone to talk to: There are carers' groups in many parts of the country where carers can get together to discuss their concerns with others in a similar position. Some areas have carers' workers whose job it is to coordinate groups and get support for people.
Voluntary
Organisations:
Carers National
Association
A national voluntary organisation the Carers National Association aim:
To encourage carers to recognise their own needs
To develop appropriate support for carers
To provide information and advice for carers
To bring the needs of carers to the attention of the government and other policy makers
Run by the carers themselves,
the Association employs full-time staff who work through seven area offices.
There are over 110 branches throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland to bring carers together. Carers National Association publishes
a journal every month and booklets on issues such as benefits, community
care, housing and equipment. Carers Line helpline for both members and
non-members. Tel: (0345) 573369
Caring Matters
http://www.caringmatters.dial.pipex.com/
Provide information about the rights, responsibilities, and resources
for people whose lives are touched by long term care. Legal and financial
matters related to mental incapacity are their speciality.
Crossroads
(Association of Crossroads Care Attendant Schemes Ltd)
This national network is able to place
trained care attendants in the homes of disabled people of any age whose
carers are under strain, helping to avoid a breakdown leading to admission
to hospital or residential care.
They are paid for their time and are
flexible about attending outside normal working hours. These support services
are managed by local schemes. For full details of where the schemes operate
Tel: (01788) 573653.
