Carers Support

If you care for someone, you can have an assessment to see what might help make your life easier. This is called a carer's assessment. It's separate from the needs assessment the person you care for might have, but you can ask to have them both done at the same time.

It might recommend things like:

• someone to take over caring so you can take a break
• gym membership and exercise classes to relieve stress
• help with taxi fares if you don't drive
• help with gardening and housework
• training how to lift safely
• putting you in touch with local support groups so you have people to talk to
• advice about benefits for carers

A carer's assessment is free and anyone over 18 can ask for one.

Call Barnsley Adult Social Care on 01226 773 300 or click HERE for more information

If you think you, or someone you know, needs help to cope day-to-day, the first step is to get a needs assessment from your local council.

You'll need to have this assessment before the council can recommend a service such as:

• equipment like a walking frame or personal alarm
• changes to your home, such as a walk-in shower
• practical help from a paid carer
• day care for your child if either you or they are disabled
• access to day centres and lunch clubs
• moving to a care home

The needs assessment is free and anyone can ask for one.

Call Barnsley Adult Social Care on 01226 773 300 or click HERE for more information

Respite care means taking a break from caring, while the person you care for is looked after by someone else.

It lets you take time out to look after yourself and helps stop you becoming exhausted and run down.

There are lots of respite care options. They range from getting a volunteer to sit with the person you look after for a few hours, to a short stay in a care home so you can go on holiday.

The person you look after could go to a day care centre. Or, a paid carer could visit them at their home to look after them.

Please call Barnsley Adult Social Care on 01226 773 300 to discuss your options.

Carers UK - 02073 784 999 - info@carersuk.org 

We’re here for unpaid carers with expert information, advice and support, and also campaign to make life better for carers.

Carers Trust - 03007 729 600 - info@carers.org

Transforming the lives of carers 

24-hour mental health helpline - 08001 830 558

The 24-hour mental health helpline offers a listening ear, emotional support and guidance to adults with new or existing mental health conditions. It also provides information, advice and support to carers.

You might not think of yourself as a carer. But you probably are if you're looking after someone regularly, including your spouse or a family member, because they're ill or disabled.

As a carer, you may be entitled to one or more state benefits to help you with the costs.

Carer's Allowance

What it is-
Carer's Allowance is the main state benefit for carers. It's £81.90 a week.

You can get it if-
You look after someone for at least 35 hours a week.

You cannot get it if-
You get more than £81.90 a week from some other benefits. But it's still worth applying as you may have what's called an underlying entitlement to Carer's Allowance. This can help increase other benefits you're getting.

Find out more by clicking HERE

Carer's Credit

What it is -
A National Insurance (NI) contribution to help make sure you do not lose out on some social security benefits, such as the State Pension, because of gaps in your NI record.

You can get it if - 
You look after someone for at least 20 hours a week and you do not get Carer's Allowance.

Find out more by clicking HERE

Carer Premium

What it is-
An allowance you get on top of some benefits.

You can get it if-
You already get a benefit, such as Income Support or Housing Benefit.

How to claim Carer Premium-
Ask about it at your local Jobcentre Plus or Jobs and Benefits Office.

Disability Living Allowance for children

What it is-
An allowance to help with the extra costs of looking after a child under 16 years old with a disability. It's between £28.70 and £184.30 a week.

You can get it if- 
You're the parent or carer of a disabled child.

Find out more by clicking HERE