Carer’s Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify themselves as carers and access much-needed support.
New research shows 72% of carers have not had any breaks from their caring role since the start of the pandemic. They have lost, on average, 25 hours of support a month they previously had from services or family and friends before the pandemic.
This year Carers Week is shining a spotlight on the lack of breaks that carers have been able to take in the past year, and the worrying impact this is having on their health and wellbeing, as well as their ability to work and live a meaningful life beyond caring.
To address this situation, they are calling on the government to urgently increase funding for carers’ breaks by an additional £1.2 billion, so all carers providing significant hours of care can take a break. They are asking you to write to your MP by clicking the link HEREand that you please forward any response you receive from your MP to policy@carersuk.org, so that they can follow up with them, if you are happy to do so.
For Carer’s Support in Dorset – Click HERE.
Carer’s Allowance:
Carer’s Allowance is the main benefit for carers. If you are looking after someone for 35 hours a week or more, you may be eligible. Carer’s Allowance is currently £67.60 a week (2021-22) and is taxable income.
The Government has also confirmed that providing emotional support counts towards the Carer’s Allowance threshold of 35 hours of care a week across the UK. These measures have been extended until August 2021.
To make a claim for Carer’s Allowance – Click HERE.
