Resources
We’ve worked with Carers and professionals to develop a range of free resources for Carers covering some of the most common issues that Carers face.
Benefits Calculator
Use our free and confidential ‘entitledto’ Benefits Calculator to find out what benefits you may be eligible to claim. You can return to your results later – just take a note of your reference code. Our Benefits Calculator will provide comprehensive welfare entitlement information, relevant to your situation. It will be helpful to have various documents to hand (and for your partner if you have one) as follows:
- Income details e.g. earnings, pensions, allowances and state benefits.
- Your partner’s income, including benefits as you will be assessed as a couple.
- Savings, investments and other capital.
- Annual council tax bill and any help you get with it.
- Rent or mortgage payments.
- Others living with you and their income.
Online Support Groups
Kissing it Better
Join our informal Carer Coffee-Catch up sessions run by our Charity partner Kissing it Better (KiB) over Zoom. These sessions are a chance for you to engage with other Carers over a cup of tea or coffee. Join in conversation or simply listen in, either with camera on or off, you don’t have to be available for the whole session as we know how busy Carers are. Carers and the person you are caring for are both welcome. KiB provides regular Carer Coffee-Catch up sessions during the week including training and activity-based sessions, great for connecting with others particularly if you’re feeling a little isolated.
You can find all the Carer Coffee-Catch Zoom sessions here.
Meet Bridgit Care
Bridgit Care is our partner delivering an online platform providing you with lots of useful information personalised to your caring situation. Answer a few simple questions to create a self-help plan to achieve your goals, ask questions via a Chat function, access video content and find out about local and national services, or book a call with a Carer Coach to support you on your caring journey.
Look out for this Chat function button on each page to get support and connect directly with support services through WhatsApp messaging. You can get quick access to assistance, allowing Carers to ask questions, seek resources, or get guidance in real-time.
‘What If’ Planning
It’s important to take some time to think about what would happen in the event you were suddenly unable to carry out your caring role. A ‘What If’ plan is a document where you can write down everything about the person you care for and their needs and preferences. In the unfortunate event that something did prevent you for being about to support your loved-one, it acts as a guide for those who step in to provide care and provides you with peace of mind.
You can keep this somewhere safe at home (in an empty glass bottle in the fridge door is a good place). Or, if you’d like to talk to someone about making your emergency plan, you can contact your local Carer support service who can discuss and record your plans. You can find their contact details here. Our Carers ID Card can also display your emergency contact name and number as well as emergency contacts from the council.
Adding ‘Emergency Contact’ (ICE) Details to your phone.
As a Carer, it’s essential to be prepared for any situation. One simple but important step is adding emergency contact details to your phone. This ensures that, in case of an emergency, others can quickly contact your loved ones or medical professionals. By setting up a “ICE” (In Case of Emergency) contacts, you can provide peace of mind for yourself and those you care for, knowing help can be reached swiftly when it’s needed most. Watch the videos we have created below to help you set this up!
Carers ID Card
Our wallet-sized Carers ID Card verifies you are a registered Carer and includes space for an emergency contact who can be contacted in case of an emergency when you’re out and about. To apply for the card, go to the Get Help section on our Homepage.
