Support for carers

Support for adult carers, parent carers, young carers and information about Carer's Allowance.

Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Support for carers

Overview

A carer is someone that provides unpaid care and support to a family member or close friend who cannot manage without it.  

This may be due to:

  • a long term illness
  • physical disability
  • learning disability
  • mental health need

Carers could be parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts or uncles, or close friends.

Carers may have:  

  • emotional and physical health and wellbeing needs
  • social isolation 
  • loss of a sense of identity 
  • loneliness 
  • financial difficulties 
  • relationship difficulties

Support for carers

As carers are often family members, they sometimes don't think of themselves as carers.

This means they may not get the support they need.  

If you provide caring duties to someone with Special Educational Needs or Disabilities, you may be entitled to extra support.  

  • Parent Carers
    For parents who care for their child / young people aged 0 to 17
  • Young Carers Service
    For children and young up to the age of 18 who have a caring role 
  • Carer's Allowance
    If the person you care for gets Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP), you may be entitled to Carer's Allowance

National organisations that support carers