Adult carers

Carer's assessment

Under the Care Act 2014, you are entitled to a carer's assessment in your own right. This is separate to an assessment carried out on the cared for adult.

If you care for someone, and it has an impact on your life, you are entitled to have a free assessment of your needs as a carer. This applies whether the person you look after has had a needs assessment or not, and even if they have been assessed as not eligible for support.

Carers come from all walks of life, all cultures and can be any age and anyone can become a carer.

Many feel that they are doing what anyone would do in the same situation; looking after a mother, wife, son or best friend, for example. You may not think you are a carer or you may not live with the person you care for and so don't ask for support.

Stages of an assessment

A carer's assessment will look at the different ways that caring affects your life and work out how you can carry on doing the things that are important to you and your family. Your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing will be at the heart of this assessment.

You may benefit from:

receiving information about local support groups
just having someone to talk to
advice about how to get a balance between work and caring
assessment of your needs
information on how your GP can help you
services to enable you to have a break from your caring role
support to participate in work, education or training

The assessment will help us to find out:

whether you have a current need for support or are likely to do so in the future
your physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
the suitability of your living accommodation
the outcomes you wish to achieve in day-to-day life

You can have a carer's assessment even if the person you care for does not get any help from the council, and they need not be reassessed.

Our carers' assessments are carried out by Northamptonshire Carers:

Complete the online assessment for carers

Direct payments for carers

If you need other types of support you may be eligible for a direct payment to support you in your caring role. This can be spent on things to make your caring role easier. We will be able to help you to find the right support - just ask for a carer's assessment.

If you would like an assessment please contact Northamptonshire Carers.

If the person you care for needs help and support

If you would like advice from the council, please contact adult social services to arrange an assessment or a care review for the person you care for - contact Adult Social Care.

Access to support organisations

There are a range of organisations across Northamptonshire that offer support groups and activities for carers.

Some of these are provided for carers looking after family members with specific health issues, such as dementia, Parkinsons, mental health issues or drug and alcohol problems.

Northamptonshire Carers

Benefits

You may be eligible for certain benefits as a carer.

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people aged 65 or over who need someone to help look after them because they are physically or mentally disabled. Find out if you are eligible and how to claim.

Attendance Allowance (GOV.UK)

Carer's Allowance

Carer's Allowance is a taxable benefit to help people who look after someone who is disabled. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person that you care for.

Carer's Allowance (GOV.UK)

Personal Independence Payment (replacing Disability Living Allowance)

The Personal Independence Payment is for disabled people aged 16 to 64.

Personal Independence Payment (GOV.UK)

Employment and Support Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance replaces Incapacity Benefit and Income Support that is paid because of an illness or disability for new claimants from 27 October 2008. If you are already receiving Incapacity Benefit, you will continue to get it as long as you are eligible.

Employment and Support Allowance (GOV.UK)

Help with health costs

Most National Health Service (NHS) treatment is free but there can be charges for some things. You may be able to get help with NHS health costs if for example you're on a low income.

Get help with health costs (NHS Choices)

Incapacity Benefit

If you can't work because of illness or disability you may be able to get Incapacity Benefit (IB), a weekly payment for people under State Pension age.

Incapacity Benefit (GOV.UK)

Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA)

If someone has difficulties that mean they can't make decisions anymore, they will need help managing their finances.

Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document where someone (while they still have mental capacity) nominates a trusted friend or relative to look after their affairs should they lose capacity. To find out more visit the Office of the Public Guardian website.