Know your rights as a carer
Being a carer can affect your work, finances, health and everyday life. Find the right information, understand what you can ask for and go straight to the next step.
Already registered? You don't need to refer again. Use the information below or contact Liverpool Carers Centre if you need help.
Your needs matter too
- You can ask for a Carer's Assessment
- You have rights that may help you balance work and caring
- You can raise what you can and cannot safely manage
- You may be entitled to financial support
- You can ask for support with your own health and wellbeing
What do you need help with?
Go straight to the part that matters to you. Where there is an official online action, we've linked directly to it.
Carer's Assessment
Talk about how caring affects your life and what support could help.
Start here →My rights at work
Carer's Leave, flexible working, emergency time off and protection from discrimination.
Check my work rights →Hospital & discharge
Know what to ask before the person you care for leaves hospital.
Hospital information →Being involved in care
Understand how your knowledge and your own limits can be part of conversations about care.
What to know →Money & benefits
Check benefits and financial support for you and the person you care for.
Check financial support →My health & wellbeing
Find support if caring is affecting your health, relationships or everyday life.
Find support →A chance to talk about you
If you're 18 or over and care for someone who is a Liverpool resident, you can complete a Carer's Assessment online with Liverpool City Council.
It isn't a test of how well you care. It looks at how caring affects your wellbeing and quality of life, and what support could make things more manageable.
Before you start
The council says the online form usually takes around 10–15 minutes. It helps to have your GP details and information about the person you care for. You'll need an email address to register for the online account.
Rights that can help you stay in work
If you're trying to balance a job with caring, there are several different rights worth knowing about. They do different things, so use the route that fits your situation.
Carer's Leave
Find out about taking unpaid leave to give or arrange care for a dependant with a long-term care need.
Check Carer's Leave on GOV.UK →Flexible working
Employees can make a statutory request to change their hours, working pattern or where they work.
How to request flexible working →Emergency time off
Employees can take a reasonable amount of time off to deal with certain emergencies involving a dependant.
Check time off for dependants →Discrimination
Equality law can protect you from direct discrimination because of your association with someone who has a protected characteristic, such as disability.
Understand discrimination rights →If the person you care for is in hospital
A hospital stay can change a caring situation quickly. If you're likely to provide care when the person leaves hospital, make sure staff know you're a carer and explain what you can realistically and safely manage.
Be clear about what you can manage
You do not have to simply agree to provide care that you cannot safely or realistically provide. Raise your concerns during discharge planning so the person's support needs can be considered.
Before they come home
Your knowledge matters — and so do your limits
You may know the person you care for extremely well and have useful information to share with health and care professionals. What professionals can share back with you can depend on the person's consent, capacity and the circumstances, but you can still explain what you know, ask questions and be clear about the care you are able to provide.
Two things worth sorting now
Money worries and unexpected changes are common pressures for carers. You can use these tools whenever you need them.
Check money & benefits
Use our financial support page to check benefits, Carer's Allowance, Carer's Credit and other help.
Money & benefitsMake an emergency plan
Create a plan for what should happen if illness, an accident or another emergency means you suddenly cannot provide care.
Create an emergency planIf caring is affecting you
Your own health, relationships, work and ability to have time for yourself matter. You do not have to wait until things become unmanageable before asking for support.
Not sure what would help?
Start with your situation
Tell us what's happening. You do not need to know which service or type of support to ask for.
Use your Carer's Assessment
An assessment can look at the impact caring has on your wellbeing, work, finances and everyday life.
Take some time for yourself
Explore groups, activities and opportunities for a break from caring.
Need help understanding your rights?
If you're unsure what applies to you, worried about a change in your caring role or don't know what to do next, speak to the Carers Centre team.
9am to 5pm
