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Employment & Benefits

Carers support for work and finances

 

Carers Leave Act - from 6th April 2024

 

The Carer’s Leave Act 2023 will help to better support unpaid carers to remain in work alongside their unpaid caring responsibilities.  The regulations for the Act, which were passed by Parliament in early 2024, confirm that the Act will come into force on 6 April 2024. 

 

The Act will:

  • give rights to at least 2 million employees who are carers

  • prompt employers to whom this applied to think about their employees with caring responsibilities

  • support carers' health and wellbeing.

  • recognise and value carers

For more information see - www.gov.uk/carers-leave

 

Flexible Working

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From April 2007, under the Work and Families Act 2006, carers are entitled to request flexible working from their employer. Flexible working can mean anything from working alternative hours, reducing your hours, or working from home.

 

To qualify, you must have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks and a written application of your proposed flexible working arrangements must be submitted to them for consideration.

 

You are entitled to make one request per year and any changes granted will be a permanent arrangement. Requests can be refused on business grounds, but an appeal can be made.

 

Contact your Union or the Citizens Advice Bureau for further help and advice.

 

ACAS produce a guide to flexible working which can be downloaded from their website by clicking here, or call their helpline on 0300 123 1100.

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Benefits

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As a carer, you may have certain rights to benefits. Every year, over £740 million of carers’ benefits are unclaimed. 

 

The benefit system can be complicated and finding out what you are entitled to can be difficult, however, help is available. Carers Link Lancashire has a dedicated Benefits & Welfare Worker who can help run a benefits check to see if you are claiming all the benefits you are entitled to.

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The Benefits & Welfare Worker can also assist you to complete the benefit form once you have requested them. For more information or to make an appointment with our worker, please call 01254 387444 or click here to download our leaflet.

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Click here to read more on benefits.

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The easiest way to find out about benefits in your individual case is using a benefits calculator:

https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/

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Pension Service

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If you have any pension or specific benefit enquiries you can contact the Pension Service for help and advice. Home visit appointments with a Pension Service Advisor can be arranged where necessary for those who are vulnerable or cannot get out to an appointment.

 

For general enquiries:

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