Unpaid carers must be:
Aged 18 or over
Full-time unpaid carer (30+ hours per week)
Able to arrange interim care
Able to pay for extras (admin fee £33, transport, food, travel insurance etc.)
The break is for the carer only. They are welcome to take a companion but NOT the person(s) they care for.
What is unpaid care?
You are considered an unpaid carer if you help someone who can’t cope alone for reasons including frailty, illness, disability, mental health issues or addiction.
If you help out with any of these things over 30 hours per week (including nights), you are also considered a full-time, unpaid carer according to Carefree and therefore eligible for a break:
Mobility
Shopping
Cooking and housework
Admin and financial matters
Medication and prescriptions
Assisting with personal care, i.e., hygiene, bathing
Support with anxiety/emotional stress
Available to talk any time of the day or night
Available on the phone at any time to talk
Available throughout the night to assist with anything
Substance abuse support
Sharing responsibility between other family members