What is a carer?

A carer is someone who looks after a friend or relative of any age with a physical or mental illness or disability, a learning disability or frailty or an addiction who needs support to live at home.

It does not matter whether that person is:

• young or old
• a relative, a partner, a child or friend
• living with you or not.

A parent carer is a carer who has parental responsibility for a disabled child under 18.

You are not a carer if you are paid to carry out your caring role as part of your job or if you provide care through a voluntary organisation.