Carers’ Information Service

You are a carer if you look after, or help to look after, a family member, friend or neighbour who needs help due to illness, frailty or disability. Both children and adults can be carers.

The help carers give is informal and unpaid (this does not exclude carers receiving Carer’s Allowance), we would therefore not consider you a carer if you are a professional who has been employed as a care worker or a foster carer (unless you are fostering a child with a disability or special need).

You do not have to be receiving Carer’s Allowance (CA) to be a carer. In fact many carers do not qualify for CA, as the eligibility rules are restrictive. For example, both parents of a child with a disability would be considered carers, but only one parent would be able to claim CA – this does not stop both of them being carers.

You do not have to live with the person you care for to be considered their carer. Nor do you have to be the only, or main, carer - a person may have several carers amongst their family and friends.

2. How can I prove I’m a carer? Should I register somewhere?

It can be useful to have proof that you are a carer if you are trying to access certain discounts or services, but unlike some other boroughs/counties Croydon does not provide carers with a card or document that proves their caring situation. This means that the only way in which to prove you are a carer is to carry your entitlement letter from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) with you to prove that you are receiving Carer’s Allowance (CA), or you are being paid a carer or disability premium* as part of your Income Support, Employment Support Allowance or Pension Credit. If you have an underlying entitlement to CA (see question five below) you could use the letter from the DWP confirming this to prove you are a carer. If you are caring for a child with a disability and you have put their name on the Register for Children and Young People with Disabilities they will have been given an I Count card which can be used as proof of their disability and therefore of your caring status.

You are under no obligation to inform anyone that you are a carer, and there is no local or national register that you need to join. You might find it helpful to let your GP know you are a carer (some GPs hold their own registers of carers attending the surgery) and ask them to put this on your record as they may offer more flexible services to carers, or keep a closer eye on your health.

*The disability premium must be being paid as a result of your partner’s disability, not yours.

3. I don’t live in the same borough/county as the person I care for – who do I go to for help?

It is the duty of the local authority of the person you care for to support you as a carer alongside the person you care for. This includes offering you a carer’s assessment and then providing any services or help that they assess you as needing. So, if you live in Croydon but the person you care for lives in Bristol, Bristol’s city council is responsible for your carer’s assessment and support.

The Carers' Information Service supports carers living in Croydon or caring for someone living in Croydon, but we would always recommend that you contact a carers support organisation based in the same borough/county as the person you care for, as they will be the experts in local services. We will be happy to give you the contact details of an appropriate carers support organisation, although not all services will support carers who do not live in their area.

4. Am I entitled to any financial support or discounts, such as a council tax discount, for being a carer?

The main financial support available to carers is Carer’s Allowance (CA) – for more details on this see question five.

If you are a carer and receive Income Support, Employment Support Allowance or Pension Credit you may be entitled to a carer premium, which will be automatically added to your benefit payments.

Carers can often get free or discounted entry to tourist attractions and leisure facilities; proof of the disability of the person you care for may be required. Some organisations have their own systems for identifying carers and people with disabilities, for example the Cinema Exhibitor’s Association Card (0845 123 1292) enables people receiving Attendance Allowance (AA) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to get one free ticket for someone accompanying them to the cinema.

People who are blind can apply for a 50% reduction on the costs of their television licence. If your child is blind, you can register the licence in their name and also get the reduction. For more details, contact TV Licensing on 0300 790 6131, or go to www.tvlicensing.co.uk.

The Disabled Person’s Railcard (0845 605 0525) allows someone with a disability and one accompanying adult to buy discounted rail tickets.

If you are caring for a disabled child you could become a member of Family Fund Extra which then entitles you to discounts on thousands of products and services from leading high street retailers.

Some, but not all, carers are entitled to a council tax discount. Council tax bills are based on two adults living in a property, if only one person lives there then the council tax bill is reduced by 25%, if no one lives there then the bill is reduced by 50%. For the purposes of council tax people can be ‘not counted’ for various reasons.

Carers are ‘not counted’ if they care for someone living in the same property for 35 hours or more a week, and that person is not their spouse/partner, or child (if the child is under 18). If more than one person in a household meets this caring criteria they can be ‘not counted’ as well. The cared for person needs to be receiving the highest rate care component of DLA or AA.

Example A
Thomas and Caroline care for their daughter, Katie, who has cerebral palsy. Katie is 25, lives with her parents and receives the highest rate care component of DLA. Both Thomas and Caroline spend at least 35 hours a week caring for Katie. For council tax purposes both Thomas and Caroline are ‘not counted’. This just leaves Katie so the council tax bill should be reduced by 25% as it is deemed to be a single occupancy.

Another way of having a member of your household ‘not counted’ is if they have a severe mental impairment (a doctor needs to provide a certificate confirming this). Again the cared for person needs to be receiving certain benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance, AA or the middle or highest rate care component of DLA.

Example B
James cares for his uncle, Simon, who has Alzheimer’s Disease. James and Simon live together and James spends over 35 hours a week caring for Simon, who receives high rate AA. Simon’s GP has provided a certificate stating that Simon has a severe mental impairment which is permanent. This means that James is ‘not counted’ for council tax purposes as he meets the criteria for a carer, and Simon is ‘not counted’ due to his mental impairment. This means that the property is seen as empty and is eligible for a 50% council tax discount.

The Disability Reduction Scheme is available to those living with someone who is ‘substantially and permanently disabled’ regardless of their age or if they are related to you, who also meets one of the following criteria:

There is an additional kitchen or bathroom in the property needed by the disabled person.
There is another room in the property (not a kitchen, bathroom or toilet) needed by and predominantly used by the disabled person.
There is enough space in the property for the disabled person to use a wheelchair indoors.

If your household meets this criteria then your existing council tax band will be lowered to the band below, which will reduce your bill.

If you have been eligible for either of these schemes in the past, but did not apply, your claim should be backdated to when you were first eligible. Properties solely occupied by people who are severely mentally impaired, and properties left empty because the occupant has moved elsewhere to care for someone, or be cared for, are all exempt from council tax. Contact the Croydon Council Tax and Benefits Customer Contact Centre on 020 8726 7000 for more information or to apply for a discount.

5. What is Carer’s Allowance and can I get it if I am a pensioner?

Carer’s Allowance (CA) is available if you are aged 16 or over and care, for at least 35 hours a week, for someone who is receiving Attendance Allowance (AA) or the middle or higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA). For more information about these and other benefits see the Money Matters section in our guide for carers. You do not have to be a relative or live with the person you are caring for, but you must not be in full-time education (over 21 hours a week) or earning over £100 a week (after some allowable deductions such as tax and national insurance).

You can only receive CA once, even if you care for more than one person. If two people care for someone, only one of them is entitled to claim even though both are carers. CA can only be backdated for three months, so you should claim within three months of the person you care for being awarded AA or DLA to avoid losing out on any income.

Be aware that if you are awarded CA the person you care for will no longer be entitled to the Severe Disability Premium, and in some circumstances this can penalise the cared for person financially.

CA overlaps with certain benefits, including the state pension. CA is currently worth £53.90 a week, but if you are receiving a state pension of the same amount or more then you will not be paid any CA even if you meet all the other criteria. If your state pension is less than £53.90 a week then it will be topped up to CA levels. It can still be worth applying for CA even if your pension exceeds the threshold, as you will be recognised as having an underlying entitlement, which can increase your chances of being eligible for pension credit and other benefits such as the carer premium.

To claim CA contact the DWP Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 88 22 00, or you can claim online at www.direct.gov.uk.

6. How can I get a break?

Breaks are vital for carers and can give you the opportunity to recharge your batteries and return to your caring role feeling refreshed. A break can also benefit the person you care for as it may give them a change of scene and company. A break might be a family holiday with or with out the cared for person, the cared for person attending a day centre, regular help from a care worker coming into the home or taking the cared for person out, or the opportunity for the carer to take part in activities of their choosing in the knowledge that the person they care for is being well looked after.

One of the first things to do if you are in need of a break is to approach Croydon Social Services (020 8726 6500 for adults and 020 8726 6400 for children) and ask for an assessment of need of the person you care for and a carer’s assessment for yourself.

Social services decide who is eligible for support by following Department of Health guidance (Fair Access to Care Services), which prioritises people who are at greatest risk of losing their independence. Children under 18 are assessed differently, under the Common Assessment Framework, which looks at the child’s situation as a whole including the needs of the family.

Following an assessment, which should take place in your home and be conducted by a care manager, if you or the person you care for are deemed to be eligible for services you should be given a written care plan and will then be financially assessed to determine how much, if anything, you need to contribute. Croydon Social Services does not charge for its services for children with disabilities.

If you do not want to go through social services or do not wish to be financially assessed, or feel sure that an assessment would lead to you having to pay the full costs of any services provided, you may decide to arrange a break privately. If this is the case then social services hold a list of approved home care providers that you could contact. You may also be able to access breaks via local community organisations; for example Croydon Mencap runs social activities for people with learning disabilities and the Association of Pastoral Care in Mental Health hosts drop-ins and creative workshops for people experiencing mental health problems.

We, the Carers' Information Service, offer breaks to carers by giving them the chance to attend free monthly training sessions. Sessions cover a range of topics such as assertiveness, managing stress, moving and handling and first aid. For more information on our training contact Ruth Laws on 020 8649 6280 or email ruthlaws@carersinfo.org.uk.

7. Where can I go for emotional support?

Being a carer can be challenging and having someone to talk to who is not part of the situation can be a great help. The Rethink Croydon Counselling Service (020 8649 9339, option 3) offers up to twelve free counselling sessions for any adult carer in Croydon, and Croydon Carers Centre (020 8688 7219) also offers counselling for carers free of charge. If you are caring for someone with a mental health problem, or you have a mental health problem yourself (perhaps as a result of being a carer) you could access the counselling offered by Mind in Croydon (020 8763 2064). Mind asks for a minimum contribution per session, but this is still far lower than the costs of accessing counselling privately.

Other sources of general emotional support, but not counselling are:

Crossroads Care Croydon (020 8667 9893) has a carers support service that offers home visits and emotional support to carers
Rethink Carers Support Service (020 8649 9339, option 3) runs carer support groups that offer mutual support to carers of people with mental health problems
Face 2 Face (020 8667 0207) offers befriending and support to parents of children with disabilities
Off the Record Young Carers Support Project (020 8649 9339, option 2) offers emotional support to young carers via one to one sessions and social activities
There are a range of other support groups for those living with specific conditions and their carers, and for parents of children with disabilities – see Publications for more details.

8. What are Direct Payments?

Direct payments allow a person who has been assessed by social services as being eligible for support to receive a cash payment to arrange and pay for their own care services rather than having them provided directly by social services. Anyone aged 16 or over who is disabled, a carer or has parental responsibility for a disabled child and who has been assessed as needing community care services is entitled to receive them in the form of direct payments. Although direct payments should always be offered no one should be forced to receive their services in this way. If you are currently receiving community care services you can request to be transferred onto direct payments at any time.

Direct payments should be used to buy services and equipment to help with identified needs in the care plan. Many people use direct payments to hire a care worker through an agency or to become an employer of a care worker themselves. You can use direct payments to employ a family member provided that they are not living with you. In some exceptional circumstances, and with the agreement of the local authority you may be able to employ a spouse, partner or close relative who lives with you.

The amount you receive in direct payments should be enough to meet your assessed needs, and to cover the costs of becoming an employer if you choose to employ someone directly. If you choose a more expensive way to meet your needs than is considered ‘reasonable’ you will need to meet the extra cost yourself. Receiving direct payments is not counted as income and will not affect your entitlement to benefits.

Support Planning and Direct Payments Service (020 8684 9559) is run by Penderels Trust and provides help to people receiving direct payments and those who are thinking about taking them up.

9. I want to go back to work – who can help?

According to the National Audit Office one in four of the UK’s six million carers would like to combine work with caring, but this can be a challenge. If you are thinking of going back to work it is important to let social services know as you may need a fresh carer’s assessment to take this into account. The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 places a duty on councils to consider a carer’s outside interests when carrying out an assessment – this includes a desire to re-enter employment. As part of the 2008 national carers strategy, Carers at the heart of 21st-century families and communities, the government pledged that Jobcentre Plus would improve their services to carers. This promise has been put into practice and Jobcentre Plus now offers the following support to carers looking for work:

More information on flexible job opportunities
Care Partnership Managers in every Jobcentre Plus district to act as champions for carer issues and to make sure advisers are informed about local carer services
Specialist training for advisers who work with carers (ongoing until June 2010)
Funding replacement care for carers taking part in approved training
Access to appropriate employment programmes

You can contact your local Jobcentre Plus to discuss how they can help you by calling 0845 604 3719.

Crossroads Care Croydon (020 8667 9893) runs a Carers In Work project which helps carers who want to get back into, or stay in, work. The project helps carers to identify their skills, and limited funding is available to help carers update their skills or get over a stumbling block that may be preventing them from starting up their own business.

10. What are my rights as a carer?

Being aware of your rights as a carer, and the rights of the person you care for, means that you will be in the best position to ensure that you are both receiving all the services and support you are entitled to. Various Acts of Parliament have enshrined carers’ rights in law:

The Mental Health Act 1983 gives carers (if they are the nearest relative) of people with a mental health problem the right to ask for an assessment of the person they are caring for.
The Children Act 1989 gives young carers (under the age of 18) of a disabled parent, the right to be regarded as ‘children in need’.
The Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995 introduced the right to a carer’s assessment for all carers, including young carers.
The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 extended these rights to include the right to support services and for these services to be made available with direct payments and vouchers.
The Employment Act 2002 gives parents with children under six or disabled children under 18, who have worked for their employer for at least 26 weeks, the right to apply for flexible work arrangements. It also gives carers the right to take (unpaid) time off work for dependants in cases of emergency.
The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 promotes more opportunities for carers in areas such as work, leisure and studying. It places a duty on local authorities to ensure that all carers know that they are entitled to an assessment of their needs. It also places a duty on councils to consider a carer’s outside interests when carrying out an assessment.
The Civil Partnership Act 2004 enables same-sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship. Couples who form a civil partnership will have a new legal status, that of ‘civil partner’. Civil partners who are carers will therefore have greater rights in areas such as welfare benefits.
The Work and Families Act 2006 extended the benefits of flexible working rights to carers of adults.
The Children and Young Persons Act 2008 created a new duty on local authorities to provide short break services and to properly support disabled children and their families when children are placed away from home.
The Equality Act 2010 replaced existing anti-discrimination laws and drew together this legislation into a single, simpler, stronger Act. The Equality Act 2010 clarifies the protection working carers are entitled to in the workplace, and bans the direct discrimination and harassment of a carer when shopping for goods or services, using facilities such as public libraries and cafes and using services such as public transport