I care for someone. What support can I ask for where we live?
Free carers rights guide
Understand your options. Decide your next step.
Caring can affect money, work, health, relationships and the time you have for yourself. Talk through the practical questions to ask about support, assessments and rights across the UK.
Click the button to open Carers Rights Guide in the bottom-right corner, then choose voice or text to start.
Take the thinking with you. Ask Carers Rights Guide to email your tailored plan when you finish.
Start with the real situation
Bring the question your team is already asking.
You do not need specialist language or a finished brief. The guide helps you turn a difficult starting point into something clear enough to act on.
Help me prepare for a carer’s assessment.
What should I check before claiming a carer benefit?
Key rights to know
The practical protections worth asking about.
Rules and routes differ across the UK. Use these as a starting point, then check the right local service or specialist adviser for your situation.
Ask for a carer’s assessment
You can ask for an assessment of your own needs. The route differs across the UK nations, but support should look at you as a carer as well as the person you support.
Check money before claiming
Carer benefits can affect other benefits. Ask for a benefits check before starting or changing a claim, especially if you receive Universal Credit or the person you care for receives disability benefits.
Your job has rights too
Eligible employees can take unpaid Carer’s Leave. Ask about flexible working and practical support at work.
Support can include breaks
Ask about practical help, emergency cover, respite and direct payments where these are available.
Be recognised in health and care
Tell GP, hospital and care teams that you are a carer. How you are involved depends on consent, capacity and safety.
Young carers need support
Children and young people who care should be recognised and offered their own assessment and support.
What you will leave with
A useful starting point, not another generic checklist.
Work through the questions that matter now. The coach turns the conversation into a clear, proportionate plan you can share and improve.
A clearer explanation of the support route that fits your situation
Questions to take to an assessment, adviser, employer or health professional
A short checklist of safe, practical next steps
Clear urgent and specialist routes when this cannot wait
A guided conversation
Start with what you know. Build from there.
There is no need for a finished brief, perfect data or specialist vocabulary. Talk or type, take your time, then ask for the plan by email when it is ready.
- 01
Start with what is happeningTell the guide what is making caring difficult right now.
- 02
Find the right routeWork out which support, assessment or advice route applies where you live.
- 03
Prepare your questionsBuild a short list for the person or service that can help next.
- 04
Choose one next stepLeave with something manageable to do, and an urgent route if you need one.
Grounded in trusted practice
Good questions, clear boundaries and sources you can check.
The tool supports judgement. It does not replace professional, legal, procurement, safeguarding or data-protection advice.
Share with a carer
A shareable guide to carers’ rights
Preview this clear one-page guide to pass on to carers. It covers the key rights, support routes and how the free Carers Rights Coach can help someone decide their next step.
Share with a carer
Your support and entitlement checklist
Preview this practical checklist to keep track of assessments, income, support, work, health, safety and emergency planning. Save it for yourself or share it with another carer.
