You have a legal right to an assessment
Under the Care Act 2014, if you provide care for another adult — whether you're a spouse, child, sibling, friend, or neighbour — your local council must offer you a carer's assessment if you request one. It doesn't matter how much care you provide, whether you live with the person, or whether they receive any formal services.
A carer's assessment looks at your needs as a carer, not just the needs of the person you care for.
What it covers
The assessment considers:
- The impact of caring on your physical and mental health
- Whether you're able to continue working or studying
- Your social life and relationships
- Whether you're willing and able to continue providing care
- What support would help you maintain your own wellbeing
How to request one
- Contact your local council's adult social care team — you can usually do this by phone or online
- Ask for a "carer's assessment under the Care Act 2014"
- The assessment should be arranged at a time and place that works for you
- You can have it with or without the person you care for present — your choice
If the council tries to refuse, remind them it's your legal right. They must carry out an assessment on the "appearance of need" — even if they think you might not meet the threshold for support.
What support you might get
If the assessment identifies that your needs meet the local eligibility threshold, the council must provide or arrange support. This might include:
- Respite care: so you can take a break from caring
- Replacement care: someone to cover while you attend your own appointments, go to work, or simply rest
- Carer's support groups or counselling
- Equipment or home adaptations that make caring easier
- Direct payments: money to spend on support that meets your assessed needs
- Information and signposting to other services
Even if you don't qualify for funded support
The assessment itself is valuable. It creates an official record that you are a carer, which can help with:
- Flexible working requests to your employer
- Applications for Carer's Allowance
- Evidence for other benefits claims
- Council Tax discounts (in some areas)
Reassessment
If your situation changes — the person you care for deteriorates, your own health suffers, or you lose other support — you can request a reassessment at any time. Don't wait for the council to offer. Ask.