In England, millions of us provide unpaid care or support to an adult family member or friend, either in our own homes or somewhere else.
‘Caring’ for someone covers lots of different things, like helping with their washing, dressing or eating, taking them to regular appointments or keeping them company when they feel lonely or anxious.
If this sounds like you, changes to the way care and support is provided in England mean you may be able to get more help so that you can carry on caring and look after your own wellbeing.
The right help at the right time
You may be eligible for support, such as a direct payment to spend on the things that make caring easier or practical support. Like arranging for someone to step in when you need a short break.
The Council of the person you care for can help you find the right support and you can ask them for a carer’s assessment.
All carers are entitled to information and advice whether they are eligible for services or not. You may prefer just to be put in touch with local support groups so you have people to talk to.
Local organisations that can offer this include:
Calderdale Carers
- Address: Rimani House, Hall Street, Halifax. HX1 5BD.
- Phone: 01422 369101.
- Email: enquiries@calderdale-carers.co.uk.
Making Space (For carers of people with mental health needs)
- Phone: 07815 493 370 (mobile).
- Email: Liza.Brown@makingspace.co.uk.
- Website: Making Space
Alzheimer's Society
- Address: 4th Floor, 39 - 41 Commercial St, Halifax. HX1 1BE.
- Phone: 01422 352789.
- Email c&k.service@alzheimers.org.uk.
- Website: Alzheimer's Society
Carer’s assessment
A carer’s assessment will look at the different ways that caring affects your life. It will 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.
As a result of the assessment, you may be eligible for support. The council will also offer you advice and guidance to help you with your caring responsibilities and help you look after your own wellbeing.
You can have a carer’s assessment even if the person you care for does not get any help from the council and they will not need to be assessed.
To ask for a carer’s assessment, please contact:
- Gateway to Care
- Telephone: 01422 393000
- Email: gatewaytocare@calderdale.gov.uk
- Website: Online contact form
Passport to Leisure Scheme
For Calderdale and surrounding areas, you can get a Passport to Leisure card. This gives you discounts on sports and leisure facilities, theatres and museums and more, if you:
- Get Carers Allowance.
- Are over 60.
- Are a full time student.
- Are on a means tested benefit, such as:
- Income Support;
- Job Seekers Allowance;
- Employment Support Allowance;
- Housing Benefit;
- Council Tax Benefit;
- Working Tax Credit.
Does the person you care for get:
- Disability Living Allowance;
- or Employment Support Allowance;
- or Attendance Allowance?
They can get a Passport to Leisure card with an orange dot. This allows you to go with them free of charge, at certain venues.
Council Tax - Carer’s Discount
Council Tax is based on a 50% property element and a 50% personal element which assumes that two adults live in the property. If only one adult lives there a 25% single occupier discount applies. Some other people are disregarded for council tax purposes, such as carers who meet this criteria:
- You care for another adult (over 18) in your own home.
- They are not your spouse or partner. (For example, they could be your adult son/daughter, mother/father or other relative or friend).
- You provide at least 35 hours per week of care.
- They get the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Attendance Allowance.
People who are ‘severely mentally impaired’ or have had their house adapted for their disability may also be entitled to a status discount.
So a household with two or more resident adults may still qualify for a discount providing that all of them (or all but one of them) meet the criteria. If there are two or more residents in the property aged 18 or over who are not entitled to a status discount then no discount can be allowed.
For more information please contact the Council Tax Discount Section on 01422 393631 or visit Council Tax discounts and exemptions.