Carer's Rights

There are nearly 6 million carers throught the UK, caring for elderly, sick or disabled relatives or friends. Most spend more than 50 hours a week looking after someone, often putting their own health and well being at risk. The care is unpaid but the value of their support is estimated at £57 billion per year!

For decades, carers - championed by Carers UK - have been battling for more rights and choices. New rights for carers became law on April 1st 2005 when the Carers (Equal Opportunites) Act 2004 came into force. (England and Wales Only).

Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK said at the time, "Carers fought hard to win these rights, which should make a difference to tens of thousands or carers every year. This legislation is a really important step in recognising that carers have a right to life outside caring."

The main rights which came into force for all carers were:

• To have their own needs assessed.
• To have a life outside caring, with more opportunities for work, leisure and education.
• The Act also encouraged local authorities to work with employers, colleges, transport providers and leisure centres etc. to tackle the barriers carers face such as getting time off work to deal with caring responsibilities or finding a college course at a time to fit in with caring.

Ask for an assessment

Carers should ask Social Services for an assessment. The purpose of the assessment is to talk about the help you need with caring, plus help to maintain your own health abd to balance caring with your life, work and familiy commitments. Social Services use the assessment to decide what help to provide.

The person carrying out the assessment should not assume you want to take on a caring role or continuing caring. They should ask if you are able and willing to carry out the tasks involved.

Social Services are only required to meet needs that no-one else is willing to meet. It is important that if you are unable or unwilling to provide care or any aspect of caring, that this should be taken into account by the local authority when deciding what services to provide.

Social Services cannot refuse to meet a need that have identified solely on the basis that they do not have the money or other resources.

The provision of carers' services is fairly new. Check your local authority's approach as it differs around the country with some authorities providing little or no services. Your social worker may not know about these services.

Most of the services that benefit carers, including breaks services, are provided to the person being looked after. These are often referred to as 'community care services'. Sometimes the combinationof community care services and carers' services can make a real difference.

The Act builds on existing rights for carers, which include:

• The right to claim Carers Allowance and other benefits.
• Help from a Care Assistant paid for or partly paid for by Social Services.
• Being given information about additional services.

Further Information

To help carers find out about the help they can get, including their rights under the Carers (Equal Opportunites) Act 2004, Carers UK have a booklet:
"Looking after someone: a guide to carers' rights and benefits".

To get the booklet:
Email: publications@ukcarers.org
Telephone: 0845 241 0963

Carers UK,
20 Great Dover Street
London
SE1 4LX
Telephone 020 7378 4931

CarersLine: 0808 808 7777

Website: www.carersuk.org