Support for PAs who are also unpaid carers

You may be working as a Personal Assistant and also support someone else in your life, unpaid – like a family member or friend. This article explains what support is available to you if you are an unpaid carer.

How do I know if I am an unpaid carer?

You’re probably a carer if all of the following apply:

• you do things like helping someone to wash, dress and eat, take them to appointments, do their shopping or keep them company
• you aren’t paid to look after the person you’re caring for
• you spend a lot of time caring for the person – there’s no legal definition of this, but it could mean anything from a few hours a day, to 24/7
• you may or may not live with the person you’re caring for.

If you are under 18, or over 18 but still in school, you will be classed as a ‘young carer’.

What kind of support can I get as an unpaid carer?

There may be lots of support available to you, including:

• Financial support including Carer’s Allowance, help with energy costs and council tax
• Support in work
• Support to get a break from your caring role

Where can I get support as an unpaid carer?

There are local Carers’ Centres across Scotland who can provide you with information, advice and support to help you with your caring role. Visit the link at the bottom of this page to find your local Carers’ Centre.

Next steps

Take a look at the Scottish Government’s ‘Carers’ Charter’ resource below to guide you in more detail.