Many people who provide unpaid care across Wokingham Borough and beyond are unaware of their rights so we've put together information about the help and support you are entitled to.
If you provide unpaid care for a friend or family member (young or older) who, due to illness, disability, or another problem, cannot cope without support, you may be entitled to help.
To help you access financial and practical support, we share three steps Carers UK suggests you can take, and links to local support.
1. Get a benefits check Get a full benefits check to see what financial support you may be entitled to. The Carer's Allowance is the primary carer's benefit, but this could also include tax credits, council tax discounts or help with fuel costs.
You can get a personalised benefits check online. It will take about 20 minutes to complete. Go to the benefits calculator
2. Find out about practical support
Caring for a loved one can be very physically and mentally demanding, so finding out from your local council what practical support is available is crucial. This support could include equipment to make caring easier or information about local support groups that can help.
All carers are entitled to a carer's assessment from their local council. This could result in the carer, or the person they are caring for, being able to get additional help or support. Contact adult social services at Wokingham Borough council and ask for a carer's assessment to find out more. You can also access more information from the council's website pages for carers.
3. Connect with others Caring can be very isolating, but you can connect with people in similar situations in many different ways. You can find local support groups to attend in person or benefit from the wealth of online forums.
To learn more about your rights, tailored to your situation, take a look at Upfront - Carers UK's online tool, or check out their online meetups if you fancy a cup of tea and chat.
There are also information and support services available across Wokingham Borough through the Wokingham Carers Partnership in which you can:
Get support to help you in your caring role
Find local services and sources of help
Look after your health and wellbeing
Connect with other carers
Understand your rights
Age UK Berkshire (Lead contact for all carers age 19+)
Website: Age UK Berkshire
Contact number 0118 959 4242
Berkshire Youth (for carers age 18 and under)
Website: Berkshire Youth
Contact Number 0118 909 0927
Promise Inclusion (Carers of children and adults with a learning disability and/ or autism)
Website: Promise Inclusion
Email: admin@promiseinclusion.org
Contact No. 0300 7778539
Reach out to us if you'd like to share your experiences if being a carer (good or bad) or if you need further information and advice to help you get the support you need. Contact us here.