If you are caring for someone, help may be available to you from your local council department specifically to meet your needs as a carer.

All carers have the right to an assessment of their needs, although what sort of assessment, who does it and your associated rights to support depend on the type of carer you are.

Adult carers of adults aged over 18 years should have a Carer's Assessment carried out by the local council's social services department.  Young carers and carers of children aged under 18 might have their needs assessed by the local council's children's and family services department.

What is available may also depend on which part of the UK that you live in.

Reviewed: January 2023

Depending on your circumstances, needs and what is available where you live, services to help you in your role as a carer should be provided by your local council's:

• Social services in England and Wales

• The social work department in Scotland

• The Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland.

This might include:

• regular breaks from caring
• equipment and adaptations to your home to make some caring tasks easier to manage
• help with the housework.

The assessment will consider what your needs are and what help you need. Once you have been assessed, if services are required, they will draw up a care plan outlining what help you need and how this can be provided. Services may be provided by social services, voluntary organisations and/or private companies.

A carer's assessment is free. Whether you will have to pay for any services that are provided as a result of the assessment will depend on the charging policy that your local social services department operates. This is usually means tested.

A financial assessment is usually done at the same time as the Carer's Assessment. 

Reviewed: January 2023

Contact your local council’s social services department to get a Carer's Assessment.

Further advice

NHS Choices information on Carers' Assessments

A local carers centre or Citizens Advice bureau should be able to advice you further.

You can use our Find an Adviser tool to find a local one or use Carers Trust Find local care and carers support tool

Last reviewed: January 2023