This upcoming 20th November is Carers Rights Day, a campaign to help carers understand the support and benefits they are entitled to access. Themed around the slogan ‘Know your Rights, Use your Rights’, this initiative is essential to ensure that carers know where to go when needing help and can confidently ask for what they are legally allowed to.
At SweetTree, we recognise the importance of care in our society firsthand -from our founding story to our amazing support workers who care for our clients every day. Many of us, just like 5.8 million others in the UK, are also unpaid caregivers for our loved ones. As rewarding as caring for a loved one can be, it can also become challenging and overwhelming, especially if one doesn’t get the right support.
So, what are the rights of caregivers in the UK? Below, we will review some of the most important ones, from protecting your health and physical integrity to helping you balance caregiving duties with your employment.
Identifying Yourself as a Carer
You can ask your GP practice to identify you as a carer, which has multiple benefits. Your GP can provide you with local resources for caregivers and help you prevent potential health conditions with a better understanding of your situation. You will also qualify for free flu jabs and can be referred to healthcare professionals for support.
REQUESTING UNPAID LEAVE
The Carer’s Leave Act came into effect in 2024, opening up possibilities for employed carers. One of the major changes for those caring for someone with a long-term condition or need is the entitlement to one week’s unpaid leave per year. This leave can be taken flexibly, and can be used for various purposes, such as taking someone to a medical appointment, arranging visits, or organising professional care for the future.
REQUESTING FLEXIBLE WORKING
Also in April 2024, the Flexible Working Act came into effect, improving rights for caregivers in multiple ways. As an example, from day one of your employment, you can request a flexible working arrangement. Employers must decide within two months of the request, unless agreed otherwise, and employers cannot request evidence of your circumstances.
ARRANGING A CARER’S ASSESSMENT
If you’re over 18 and provide unpaid care for someone regularly, you can get a carer’s assessment. The assessor will analyse how caring is affecting your life, from your health to your work life, and help you plan for emergencies.
If your needs are eligible for support, your council or trust will create a support plan tailored to you. This support can range from training to counseling or respite care, allowing you to take a break from caring. Even if you are not eligible for support, they should still give you information and advice.
BEING CONSULTED BEFORE HOSPITAL DISCHARGE
If the person you care for is being discharged from the hospital, and whenever possible, the hospital must identify and consult with you.
ACCESSING CARER’S ALLOWANCE
If you spend 35 hours or more per week caring for someone with a disability or an illness, you could be eligible for financial support in the form of the Carer’s Allowance. Paid at £83.30 per week, you must meet some conditions in order to qualify for it, including earning less than £196 per week after certain deductions and being aged 16 or over. If you want to know more about carer’s allowance, visit the UK Government’s website.
If you’re caring for someone and need support, just know that you can ask for help. In addition to the resources mentioned above, it can be useful to access a support group for caregivers. There are many options available, including:
- Online forum for dementia carers, by the Alzheimer’s Society
- Local carer support groups, by Age UK
- Mental health resources, by Mind
To know more about the Carers’ Rights campaign or take part in it, visit Carers UK.
As part of our appreciation to unpaid caregivers across the UK, we have also launched a yearly campaign dedicated to unpaid dementia caregivers. National Dementia Carers Day is commemorated on the third Sunday of September and aims to recognise and celebrate the role of caregivers in our society. If you wish to participate in next year’s campaign, contact us or share your story on social media using the hashtags #NationalDementiaCarersDay and #NDCD.