Financial support for carers and those you care for:

If you care for someone, there is a range of financial benefits available to you and also to the person you care for. Being a carer means someone, whether they are an adult or a child, who looks after and supports a friend, relative or neighbour, who could not manage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental illness or disability. It does not mean a professional care-worker or personal assistant who gets paid for their work.

Do not be afraid to ask for help and claim what you are entitled to.

If you provide care for someone aged 18 or over, your local social services should carry out an assessment to see if you are entitled to any services that could make caring easier for you. A carer's assessment is about your needs as a carer.

Example of help available:

• Help with household tasks
• Help with caring tasks during the day and night
• Respite care
• Activities for the ‘cared-for’ person
• Benefits advice
• Contact details for chiropodist, community dentist, health visitor or optician