Bremhill, Hilmarton & Compton Bassett- Carers

 In Sickness & In Health

18^th-24^th 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