What's the issue?

"If only I'd been told about practical help I could get, I would not have suffered so much with my back trying to help my husband to the bathroom."

Carers consistently say that information is the one thing that would make a difference to their lives. It is also a vital part of reaching ‘hidden carers’ – people who don’t recognise themselves as carers.

Giving carers information can improve their lives. On Carers Rights Day 2006, thousands of carers were told about their rights and entitlements to benefits and services. This really
made a difference to their lives:

• one third applied for a carer’s benefit
• one in six either applied for or asked for their Pension Credit to be reviewed
• one in five asked for a carer’s assessment
• one in eight said that they had read the information but did not need anything else.

One in three carers report that they are missing out on vital benefits as a result of not finding out about their entitlements – and nearly 60% thought they had missed out for over three years.

Carers felt this had an impact on their pension entitlements, quality of life and health and well-being. Missing out on a year of Carer’s Allowance would mean a loss of income of around £2500 per year and would also mean missing out on contributions towards their pension, at a cost of a minimum of £52 per year for every year lost towards their pension in today’s prices.

For many carers information often acts as a gateway to a service. Nearly 70% of carers felt they had missed out on practical support for over five years. Equipment, aids, adaptations of the home as well as practical support from care assistants are all critical to reducing carers’ stress and improving their health and emotional well-being.

For some carers, getting extra help means that they can continue working. This carer’s comment was typical:

“I could have attended training courses and got a promotion. Maybe I could have worked overtime and had a night out!"