Young carers
Find support if you are a young carer.
A young carer is someone who looks after a relative (or someone close to them) who needs help and support because of illness or disability. Many young people in Ireland look after family members who need their help.
Caring for someone else can be very tough. If you are in this situation you may have worries, feel that others don't understand what you are going through or feel that your friends don't seem to have a care in the world.
Don't feel guilty if you sometimes feel angry or fed up about having to take care of a sick parent, brother, sister or grandparent. Speak to family, friends, a teacher or another adult you trust and share how you are feeling.
As a carer you may also be entitled to some benefits and allowances such as:
Carer’s Benefit: This is a benefit paid out to insured people who leave work to care for someone. If you are entitled to this, you will receive a sum of money from the government for a maximum period of 104 weeks. You must be 16 or over to qualify for this benefit and have given up work to care for the ill person. You also cannot work outside the home for more than 15 hours a week while you are getting this payment. People receiving this benefit are also entitled to receive a Respite Care grant on the first Thursday of June every year. This grant can go towards the cost of respite care, so the carer can have a break from the stresses and strains of caring.
Carer’s Leave: This is a benefit paid out to people who leave work for a shorter period of time and not as a permanent arrangement. You may receive a payment for up to 13 weeks.
Carer’s Allowance: This is a benefit paid out to people on a low income who are caring full time. In order to qualify, you must be living with the person you are caring for and be at least 18 years old. You also cannot work outside the home for more than 15 hours a week if you are receiving this.
Half–rate Carer’s allowance: If you are getting another social welfare payment, you may also qualify for the half rate carer’s allowance. Essentially, you will get paid half the full rate. You may qualify for this allowance if you: are already getting carer’s allowance and qualify for another social welfare payment, or if you have moved from another social welfare payment to get carer’s allowance.
Respite Care grant: This is a sum of money paid annually to all carers in Ireland. You may use this for respite care, but you do not have to. You must be in receipt of a social welfare allowance and be caring full time.
Household Benefits: This allowance entitles you to reductions on your electricity, gas, telephone and TV license.
Free Travel: You may be entitled to free public transport on all public rail, bus and LUAS lines.
There is support and advice available: The YC Net is a Scottish supportive online community of young carers which offers support and advice from other young carers and qualified youth workers. See: www.youngcarers.net/
You can also check out The Carers Association - Ireland's national voluntary organisation for and of family carers in the home. See: www.carersireland.com
Thanks to School Journal.
Click here to read a true life story on caring for a sick parent.
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