Carers

Are you a carer?

If you are a carer, please let us know – we may be able to help you .

There is a wealth of information on the NHS website about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.

• A guide to care and support:  Information for carers and people who have care & support needs.
• Caring for someone: Advice on providing care, medicines etc.
• Care after hospital: Providing care for people who have been recently discharged from hospital.
• Taking a break: Caring for someone can be a full-time job - find out about accessing breaks and respite care.
• Support and benefits for carers: Caring for someone can be a full-time job - find out about accessing breaks and respite care.
• Work and Disability: Guidance, support and help with employment issues.
• Being a young carer: Advice for carers 18 or under and their entitlement to support

Finance and law

Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.

• Benefits for carers: Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role
• Benefits for the under-65s: Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to.
• Benefits for the over-65s: Advice and information on financial support for older people with a disability or illness.
• Carer's Assessment: How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits
• Other benefits: Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring

Contact Carers Direct

Website

Telephone: 0808 802 0202

Email: CarersDirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk

Office Hours: Lines are open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines.

Kent Young Carers

Kent Young Carers is the countywide service for Young Carers aged 5-18 across Kent. Young Carers are taking on caring responsibilities for a family member with a long-term illness, disability, mental health or substance misuse issue.

KYC works with schools, communities, and statutory and voluntary agencies to identify hidden young carers. Following assessment, KYC offer a range of short-term interventions including signposting, one-to-one support, in school support and workshops.

Find out more about KYC