Help For Unpaid Carers

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Are you caring for a family member or friend? If you are not being paid to do this as a job, you are an “unpaid carer”.

  • The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, defines a carer as “someone who provides unpaid care to an adult or disabled child.”
  • The cared for person may be a family member or a friend, who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.

There is a range of support available to help you.

Financial Help

The Money Advice Team can check that you are claiming everything you are entitled to.

Grants for Unpaid Carers

Grants may be available for various reasons including well-being activities for the carer, cost of living and one-off schemes.

Carers Assessments

Carers Assessments asks “what matters to you?” and provides information, advice and assistance that might support you in your caring role.

For further information and how to arrange one via our website.

Contact Details/ Teams providing Support

For someone over 18 caring for someone over 18:

For someone over 18 caring for someone under 18:

For a young carer under 18:

  • Cardiff Family Advice and Support – Young Carers co-ordinator
  • Email: ContactFAS@cardiff.gov.uk
  • Tel: Direct contact for Young Carers co-ordinator – 02920 872046 / 07772439767 or general queries FAS: 03000 133 133

Training for Unpaid Carers

Cardiff Council offer a range of training sessions and courses for unpaid carers. Further details can be found on the  Age Friendly Cardiff website

Carer’s Rights in the Workplace

If you work as well as providing care, you may not be aware of your rights in law.  See Your rights in work | Carers UK for more information.

If you are struggling to cope

The emotional and physical toll of caring for someone can take its toll. There is support available, including:

Cardiff Council Wellbeing Team

  • One to one mentoring to help you manage your own wellbeing
  • Activities based on your personal interests and needs
  • Opportunities to make new friends and connections
  • Learn about what is available in your own community
  • Events and training
  • Volunteering in the community

Contact the team by email Wellbeingteam@cardiff.gov.uk or call 029 2087 1071 Option 3 (please leave a message and they will call you back)

Mental Health Helplines

There are a range of support organisations listed on NHS Wales website

Caring Ends- Going into a Home or Supported Accommodation

When the person you are caring for needs to leave their home, there are many things to consider.

Financial

You will need to think about how the change will affect your financial situation.

  • Paying for the accommodation- Independent Living Services complete Financial Assessment for those needing care, or going into residential care.
  • Advise DWP, Pension Service, banks, GPs of the change
  • Partners left at the main home will need to make new claims for benefits as a single person

Decision Making

If the person you care for is no longer able to manage their affairs, you will need to take legal steps to do so for them. Age UK have further details, including the following:

  • Power of attorney
  • Advanced Care Plans
  • Living Wills

Housing and Council Tax

Check mortgages and tenancies to see who is liable as there may be changes to be made.

  • Advise Council Tax– you may be entitled to discounts on your bill

When Caring Ends- Bereavement

Financial Support

There is a range of support available including:

  • Carers Allowance is payable for up to 8 weeks after the person being cared for dies. Universal Credit Carer Element can be paid for the reminder of the assessment period when the person died for two further assessment periods
  • Bereavement Support Payments- if the person being cared for was a partner, and you are under State Pension Age
  • If the person who died is the main claimant for joint benefits, the bereaved person will need to make their own claims ie UC, HB, CTR
  • The Money Advice Team can support the bereaved make new claims
  • Must notify relevant agencies of the death so that claims are not overpaid


Bereavement Support

Cruse offer support, advice and training for anyone who has been bereaved. There is support for children and young people available too.

When Caring Ends- The Carer

If you have spent time caring for someone, when that caring ends you may find yourself unsure of what to do. Support is available from wellbeing to training to looking for employment.

Activities

Money Advice Line 02920 871 071