Caring FAQs

 // Carers In Herts > Caring FAQs
Frequently asked questions

Here's the answers to the questions we hear most often.

  • Am I a family/friend carer?

    You are a carer if you look after a family member, friend or neighbour who without your support would not be able to manage. They may have a physical or learning disability, dementia, mental health problems, may misuse drugs or alcohol or may be ill or frail.

    Anyone can become a carer: Carers come from all walks of life, all cultures and can be of any age.

    The person may live with you or elsewhere, even in a care setting.

    They may be an adult or a child but if they rely on you for support due to a condition or illness, then you are a carer.

    Claiming Carers Allowance does not affect the support you are entitled to as a family/friend carer – it does not mean you are a ‘paid’ carer.

    Contact our Carer Support Advisory team if you would like to talk about your caring role. You can call the team on 01992 58 69 69 or email contact@carersinherts.org.uk

    Carers in Hertfordshire does not support foster carers, paid careworkers (for whom caring is a job) or kinship carers.

  • Who do I tell I'm caring for someone?

    There is no official register for family/friend carers. However, informing services, professionals and people you know of your caring role will enable you to access additional support. Here’s a few that can be useful:

    • Your local carers centre. In Hertfordshire, that’s us! You can register online or contact us another way if you prefer. If you care for someone outside of Hertfordshire, we recommend that you also try to register with the carers centre in that area as they will have knowledge of local services. You can find details of other carers centres here: Support where you live
    • Your GP surgery. If you are registered with a GP surgery in Hertfordshire, speak to the Carer Champion at your surgery and ask them about the support they can offer you. If the person you support is registered with a different GP surgery, let their GP know you are their carer.
    • If you or the person you care for are an in-patient in hospital let the staff on the ward know about your caring role. Hospitals in Hertfordshire have got carers leads who are there to support whilst the person you care for or yourself are in hospital
    • You may want to inform your employer that you have a caring role (see the section ‘Should I tell my employer I am a carer?’).
    • The local authority where the person you support lives can provide you with an assessment of your own needs as a carer. In Hertfordshire, you can request a Carer’s Assessment from Hertfordshire County Council – or if the person you care for requires support because of their mental ill health, call Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust on 0800 6444 101. To find out more about carers assessments take a look at the section called ‘What is a Carer’s Assessment?’
    • Friends and family can be a great source of practical and emotional support.
    • The education setting the child or young person is attending to ensure effective communication and support is in place.
    • Any service the person you support is accessing. As a carer, you will have a unique insight into the needs of the person you care for. It will not always be possible for those services to share information with you about all the support they are providing the person you care for as they will need their consent to do so.
  • How do I get a break from caring?

    It is important that you make time for yourself. Taking a break from caring, sometimes called ‘respite’, can mean different things for different people. You will need to think about the type of break that is right for you and the person you support. It could mean a couple of hours a week, a few days here and there, or a couple of weeks to enable you to have a holiday. There are a range of options that will depend on your personal circumstances.

    • Parent carers can access a break from caring through the Local Offer The Hertfordshire SEND Local Offer
    • Helping you care is a dedicated Carers Support and Breaks Service. It is short term support (6-8 weeks maximum) designed to assist unpaid carers in Hertfordshire caring for adults aged 18 and over, including older adults (65+), and individuals with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, or mental health conditions.
      • In Stevenage and North Herts, the service is delivered by Crossroads Caring for Life. Support can be requested on their website or by calling 01462 455578.
      • In the rest of Hertfordshire, it is delivered by Care by Us: 0333 700 8080 or enquiries@carebyus.com
      • An adviser from Carers in Hertfordshire can make a referral on your behalf if you prefer – contact us.
    • A Carer’s Assessment can give eligible carers access to regular on-going funded breaks. To find out more, take a look at the section ‘What is a Carer’s Assessment?’. For under 18s, speak to our Young Carers team.
    • You may choose to arrange replacement care yourself, by directly employing a home care agency or arranging sort term residential care. You can find a list of the care providers in Hertfordshire including their CQC rating on the Care Choices
    • You could also arrange a holiday for the person you are looking after or for both of you together.  Depending on your financial situation, you may be able to access grants to help with the cost of the break. Take a look at our holiday tips for carers for more information.

    Our Carer Support Advisors can talk through these options with you – just get in touch.

    Remember to talk to friends and family, who can be a great source of support when you need to take a break from caring.

  • What financial help is available for carers?

    Depending on your income, assets and living arrangements, you might be able to access a number of financial supports including:

    • Carer’s Allowance is a benefit for people who are giving regular and substantial care to someone who is ill or has a disability. Carer’s Allowance is a taxable benefit and forms part of your taxable income.

    You can usually get Carer’s Allowance if all of the following apply:

    • you’re aged 16 or over
    • you’re not in full time education
    • you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a disabled person
    • you don’t earn more than £196 a week from employment or self-employment – after deductions such as income tax, National Insurance and half of your pension contributions

    The person you are caring for must get one ‘qualifying benefits’

    If you are claiming Carer’s Allowance you may also be able to claim a Carer Premium/Addition or Carer Element

    Your claim for Carers Allowance, may affect the benefits entitlement of the person you care for.

     

    • Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit that helps with gaps in your National Insurance record. You could get Carer’s Credit if you’re caring for someone for at least 20 hours a week

    The person you care for may themselves be entitled to some financial support such as Attendance Allowance, Personal Independent Payment, discount on council tax, discount on or free TV licence, help with paying for NHS prescriptions through the NHS low-income scheme…

    Speak to one of our advisors about how to claim Carer’s Allowance and other financial support. Please note that applications to welfare benefits can be very complex and we advise you get support with this process. We can put you in touch with a benefit specialist who can help you with your application.

    You can complete a benefits check online to see what additional help you may be entitled to claim. Turn2Us have a useful tool Turn2us Benefits Calculator

    Some carers who are facing financial difficulties may be eligible for a grant. These grants usually have strict eligibility criteria.

    HertsHelp is an organisation supporting citizens of Hertfordshire who are struggling financially. It provides advice and access to funding

  • What is an 'In Case of Emergency Plan'?

    An emergency plan contains important information about the person you care for. It explains what needs to happen in an emergency if something happens to you. For example, if you are unwell or have an accident and cannot care for the person. Having this plan in place makes it easier and quicker for someone else to support them when you can’t.

    If you care for an adult who lives in Hertfordshire you can request a ‘in case of emergency’ plan from Hertfordshire County Council here: Carers In case of emergency plan. If the person you care for has a mental health issue the plan will be organised by Hertfordshire Partnership Foundation NSH Trust. You can contact them on 0800 6444 101

    If you have a formal in Case of Emergency Plan you should inform your GP surgery for them to log this information on your record.

    You may prefer to organise a less formal plan. Carers in Hertfordshire has developed a template to help you record your plan back-up plan template for carers.doc

    Young carers can write their informal plan in this Young Carer Emergency Contact Plan Booklet developed by Carers in Hertfordshire

  • What is a Power of Attorney?

    A Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) is a legal document that allows one person (the donor) to appoint another person (the attorney) to act on their behalf.

    There are 2 types of LPA:

    • health and welfare. It can only be used when the donor is unable to make their own decisions
    • property and financial affairs. It can be used as soon as it’s registered, with the donor’s permission.

    The Donor must be 18 or over and have mental capacity (the ability to make their own decisions) when they make the LPA. They do need to live in the UK or be a British citizen to make an LPA.

    If the donor no longer has capacity to make their own decisions, a different process will need to be followed, and a deputyship will need to be organised.

    Carers in Hertfordshire runs regular information sessions on both LPA and Deputyship. Check out our latest events for more information.

    To make a lasting power of attorney the donor needs to:

    1. Choose their attorney(they can have more than one).
    2. Fill in the forms to appoint them as an attorney.
    3. Register the LPAwith the Office of the Public Guardian (this will take 8 to 10 weeks if there are no mistakes in the application).

    Applying to register an LPA costs £82 unless the donor is eligible for a reduction or exemption.

    You do not need to use a solicitor to make an LPA, you can do this yourself. Some Hertfordshire based organisations may be able to help.

    Age UK Hertfordshire | Lasting Power of Attorney – this service is not free

  • What are my rights at work?

    It is your choice whether you tell your employer you have a caring role. However, you may need to tell your employer in order to access any support that they provide.

    Carers are protected from discrimination.

    There are 2 types of rights at work that apply to you as a carer:

    • Statutory rights, these apply to all
    • Contractual rights, these come from the contract of employment and are usually more generous than statutory rights.

    Your statutory rights are:

    • The right to request flexible working
    • The right to time off in emergencies
    • The right to parental leave
    • Since April 2024 carers have the right request Carers Leave. There is more information here: The Carer’s Leave Act 2023 | Carers UK

    If you are unsure what your contractual rights are, talk to the HR department at your place of work or your manager.

    Acas may be a good source of information. They give employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice

     

    Talk to one of our advisors if you are unsure how to start the conversation about your caring role with your employer. You can contact our advisor team on 01992 586969 or contact@carersinherts.org.uk

  • Where do I find information about the condition of the person I support?

    In the first instance you may want to seek information and advice from the health or social care professionals involved in supporting the person you care for.

    There is a lot of information available online, when using these resources make sure the information is from a reputable source. The NHS website is a good resource Conditions A to Z: common topics – NHS

    There are a number of local and national organisations providing information and specialist advice about specific conditions. The list below is not exhaustive:

    Addiction

    Autism

    Brain injury

    Cancer

    Dementia

    End of life

    Mental Health

    Neurological conditions

    Parkinson’s

    Sensory needs

    Stroke

    Stroke: Causes and types

  • Where do I find activities and support for the person I care for?

    There are many services available that are tailored to age groups/conditions/interests. Please note that services may incur a fee. The Hertfordshire Directory lists a number of activities and groups Home | Hertfordshire Directory

    The list below focuses on services operating in Hertfordshire. The list is not exhaustive.

  • How do I look after myself while caring?

    Caring can be rewarding but it is important to recognize that it can also take its toll on your own health and wellbeing as a carer. Making time for yourself, and accessing help can make all the difference. Take a look at the section on ‘how to have a break from caring’ or Check out our latest events – Carers In Herts

    There are also a number of services that can help:

  • Where can I find support with managing difficult relationships around my caring role?

    Balancing the needs of the person you are caring for with your own wellbeing can be demanding, and it’s not uncommon for relationships—with the person you are supporting, as well as with other friends and family—to become strained at times. These feelings are entirely normal, and acknowledging the emotional impact of caring is an important step in looking after yourself too.

    If you are concerned about how caring may be affecting your relationships, there are a number of services provided by Carers in Hertfordshire that can support you.

    • In the first instance you may want to discuss the situation with one of our Carer Support Advisors, you can contact them on 01992 586969 or contact@carersinherts.org.uk
    • Carers in Hertfordshire offers a mentoring service. Mentoring can help build self-esteem and confidence. It can also help you set boundaries. Read our Factsheet for more information
    • Check out our latest events. Our events and learning opportunities, in person and online, cover a wide range of topics including developing resilience, setting boundaries and communicating effectively.

     

    Other services that may be useful:

  • Paying for care

    In England, social care (such as help at home, day services, or care in a residential setting) is not free. Whether someone, who has care and support needs, receives help from the local council to pay for care depends on two key assessments:

    1. A care needs assessment  – to determine what kind of support a person requires.
    2. A financial assessment (means test) – to decide who should pay for the care and how much.

    Who Pays for care?

    • Most people with care and support needs contribute something towards their care, even if they qualify for local authority support
    • If the person has savings and assets over £23,250, they are usually expected to pay the full cost of their care (this is called self-funding).
    • If they have less than £23,250, the local council may contribute, depending on their income, savings, and needs.
    • Friend and family carers are not responsible for paying for social care for the person they support. A financial assessment is an individual assessment of the person with care needs. The financial assessment is based on the individual’s income and assets, not the couple’s combined finances.

     

    When does the person with care needs not pay for care?

    • If the person’s needs are primarily health-related (e.g. due to a serious illness or complex condition), the NHS may pay for all their care — this is called NHS continuing healthcare or CHC funding

     

    How much does the support for family/friend carers cost?

    If the person you care for lives in Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire County Council or Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (if the person you care for has a mental health issue) can offer you an assessment of your needs as a carer. This is to assess whether you have needs that are eligible under the Care Act.  The assessment asks three main questions:

    1. Are your needs a direct result of providing necessary care?
    2. Is your caring role having a negative impact on your health or daily life?
    3. Is this impact on your wellbeing significant?

    If the answer is “yes” to all three, you’ll usually be considered eligible for support.

    In Hertfordshire, the support you receive, as a carer, to meet eligible needs is free.

    The support can be offered directly to you or indirectly, which means the support is given to the person with care need, so you can have a break. Take a look at the section on ‘How do I get a break from caring?’ for more information about carers breaks funded by the local authority.

    There will be some situations when the service received by the carer is considered to  be a service for the person with care needs and a charge will be incurred i.e. accessing a day centre,  respite care in a care setting, personal care

     

    Helpful guides and resource