A carer's assessment is your legal right under England's Care Act 2014 to have a local authority formally examine how caring affects your wellbeing and ability to sustain your caring role long-term. Under the Care Act 2014, England residents providing unpaid care have a statutory right to a carer's assessment regardless of hours worked or income, with local authorities legally obliged to assess if need appears present. Preparing a clear list of your support needs before assessment helps the assessor understand the practical and emotional toll of caring for someone with dementia. Writing down specific care tasks, their frequency, and how they affect your work, health, relationships, and ability to care long-term gives the authority a complete picture of what you need to stay well and sustain your role.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Table of Contents
- What a carer's assessment covers
- How to request an assessment
- What to prepare before your assessment
- Eligibility and what the assessment examines
- What support you can receive if eligible
- Financial support separate from assessment
- Frequently Asked Questions
What a carer's assessment covers
A carer's assessment is not about the person with dementia—it focuses entirely on you, the carer. The assessment examines how caring affects your ability to achieve key life outcomes—maintaining work, education, relationships, self-care, and wellbeing—plus whether you can sustain the caring role now and in future. You have this right regardless of how many hours you care for or your income. The local authority must carry out an assessment if it appears you may have support needs, so requesting one triggers a legal obligation they must meet.
How to request an assessment
Contact your local authority's adult social care team to ask for a carer's assessment. You can request assessment by contacting your local authority via phone, post, email, or online form; for a written trail, send a formal letter to the Director of Adult Social Care, typically triggering first contact within 28 days. A written request is strongest—email or a letter to the Director of Adult Social Care creates a dated record and usually prompts faster action. When you contact them, simply state: "I am an unpaid carer for [person's name] and I would like to request a carer's assessment under the Care Act 2014.".
What to prepare before your assessment
Begin documenting your caring role at least two weeks before your assessment. Write a detailed log of care tasks (timing, duration, frequency), collect diagnosis letters and medical correspondence, and document specific impacts on your employment, finances, relationships, and health.
Prepare notes covering: Bring any diagnosis letters, medical reports about the person you care for, and payslips or employment records showing impact on work. A written list is far more powerful than speaking from memory during the assessment.
- Daily and weekly care tasks: washing, dressing, medication, meal preparation, managing appointments, financial admin, emotional support
- Time each task takes and how often you do it
- How caring has affected your work (missed hours, reduced pay, job loss)
- Physical and emotional health impacts: fatigue, stress, sleep loss, anxiety
- Relationships strained by caring time and stress
Eligibility and what the assessment examines
The assessor uses a three-part test to determine if you are eligible for support. Eligible needs are determined by a three-part test: assessed needs caused by the person you care for's condition, your inability to achieve two or more of ten specified outcomes (work, learning, socialising, caring for others), and significant wellbeing impact. Assessments typically take 1 hour, conducted at home or by phone/video; you may complete forms in advance or with the assessor; request support from a friend, family member, or advocate to help articulate your needs. You do not have to attend alone—bringing an advocate, family member, or friend who knows your situation helps you explain your needs fully and ensures nothing important is missed.
What support you can receive if eligible
If your assessment confirms eligible needs, you receive a care and support plan within roughly four additional weeks. If eligible, you receive a care and support plan within ~4 additional weeks detailing solutions such as paid respite care, household help, transport assistance, gym memberships, counseling, or strategies to sustain your role long-term.
For dementia carers specifically, support identified in assessments may include respite breaks with paid carers, financial help with taxis, wellbeing activities, household support, and connection to dementia-specialist support groups and resources. Important: assessment approval does not automatically grant funding—councils have limited budgets and may offer lower-cost alternatives (advice, group support, volunteer services) even if eligible needs are identified. If you disagree with what the authority offers, you can appeal or ask for your decision to be reviewed.
Financial support separate from assessment
Carer's Allowance is a separate benefit from the assessment and is not determined by it. Carer's Allowance (£83.30/week in 2026, reviewed annually) is a separate benefit not determined by assessment; check eligibility independently alongside the local authority assessment process. You must apply for it through the Department for Work and Pensions, not your local authority, so complete both applications in parallel to cover all available support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I lose my assessment right if I work full-time?
No. You have a statutory right to assessment regardless of hours worked or income.
What if my local authority refuses to assess me?
They cannot refuse if it appears you may have support needs. If refused, contact Carers UK or your local advocacy service to challenge the decision.
Can I bring someone to my assessment to help me?
Yes. You can request support from a friend, family member, or paid advocate to help you articulate your needs clearly.
Will my assessment guarantee I get paid help?
Eligible needs are identified, but councils have limited budgets and may offer lower-cost alternatives like advice or volunteer support rather than paid care.
