Carers Rights Day – Caring for your income

This ninth annual Carers Rights Day takes place on December 4 – and the Community Health and Social Care Partnership (ChaSCP) is delighted to be supporting the national awareness day.

The focus of this year’s Carers Rights Day is on Caring for your income and pension.

There are nearly six million carers in the UK and 2.3 million people become carers every year. In the Western Isles there are over 2,800 unpaid carers almost of quarter of whom provide care for over 50 hours a week. Almost three quarters of carers suffer financially as a result of caring. The CHaSCP recognises the importance of ensuring that carers receive the information they need to help them claim the benefits that are rightfully theirs because:

• Millions of carers benefits are not claimed each year,
• Carers may be missing out on a range of other discounts and benefits like Income Support, Housing Benefit and Council Tax relief
• Claiming the Carers Allowance can help protect basic State Pension Rights for Carers under 65

To ensure that more carers are aware of the help they are entitled to, the CHaSCP will be launching a number of information boards around the islands.

The CHaSCP will also be providing a number of temporary information points with information on carers rights and benefits in the foyer of the Council Offices in Sandwick Road, in the foyer of Western Isles Hospital Stornoway and Stornoway Public Library during the week commencing November 30 2009. This will include free copies of the booklet ‘Looking After Someone? A guide to carers’ rights and benefits’ which provides specialist advice to carers. Copies are also available from the CHaSCP Office, Springfield Road Health Centre (01851 703545 x 237) or from Carers UK on 0845 241 9379.

Crossroads, Harris, in conjunction with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau will be holding a coffee afternoon at 2pm on Friday December 4 in the Harris Hotel, which is open to any carers who would like information and advice on financial or practical concerns. Telephone 01859 502171 for details.