{"id":3040,"date":"2024-03-23T14:35:46","date_gmt":"2024-03-23T14:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/?post_type=article&p=3040"},"modified":"2024-09-04T09:31:40","modified_gmt":"2024-09-04T09:31:40","slug":"eligibility-for-carers-to-access-support-for-themselves","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/handbook.scot\/sds-handbook\/article\/eligibility-for-carers-to-access-support-for-themselves\/","title":{"rendered":"Eligibility for carers to access support for themselves"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first step to accessing support for yourself as an unpaid carer or young carer is to get an Adult Carer Support Plan or Young Carer Statement. This will identify your needs as a carer.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can find out more about this here: <\/span>Adult Carer Support Plan\/ Young Carer Statement<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

In order to decide whether you can access support through your local council, the council will look at the needs that have been identified in your Plan or Statement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your needs may be met by the support already provided to the person you care for, or through general services in your local area.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have any needs that cannot be met by these means, then you are classed as having what are called eligible needs.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What are the rules about who can get support in my area?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n

Every council area in Scotland has different rules when it comes to deciding what eligible needs are. These are called eligibility criteria.<\/span><\/p>\n

Your local council should publish their eligibility criteria on their website \u2013 search for \u2018carer eligibility\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rules are slightly different from area to area, but most councils follow a similar set of rules that have been encouraged nationally.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can take a look at these general rules<\/a> to give you an idea of what to expect.<\/span><\/p>\n

The rules look at different areas of need and decide how much impact these are having on your life. This includes things such as:<\/span><\/p>\n