18th-24th June
2012 is National Carers Week
aRE YOU A CARER? Carers provide unpaid care by looking
after an ill, frail or disabled family member, friend or partner.
Caring in numbers (All these figures are from the 2001
Census).
· There are 1.9 million people caring
for more than 20 hours per week and 1.25 million care for more than 50 hours
per week.
·
Women are more likely to be carers
than men.
·
The peak age for caring is 50 to 59.
·
10% of the total population of the UK
are carers.
GET A CARERS ASSESSMENT: Carers assessments
are a way of identifying your needs as a carer. They look at your role as a
carer: how being a carer affects you, how much caring you can realistically do.
benefits: Social care is not usually free. Take
the opportunity to have a benefits check
to make sure you are claiming everything that you are entitled to such as:
Benefits for the person you care for,
like Disability Living Allowance, for people under the age of 65 or Attendance
Allowance for those over 65.
· Carers’ benefits such as Carer’s
Allowance if you are providing care, unpaid, for 35 hours or more for someone
who receives the right level of disability benefit.
·
Council tax discounts.
·
Discounts on fuel bills if you
receive certain benefits.
·
Protection for your state pension.
Speak to me Emma Dowie,
Good Neighbour Coordinator for Hilmarton, Bremhill & Compton Bassett on 07557
922029
or email gncarea18@communityfirst.org.uk
