The Council is using Carers' Rights Day on Friday, 8 December to promote the benefits available to carers, and make sure they are claiming the financial support they are entitled to.
Nationwide, one in six people aged over 60 is a carer - looking after an ill or disabled loved one, relative, friend or neighbour without pay.
In Greenwich there are 18,797 carers. 3,540 are aged over 65 and 4,364 provide care for over 50 hours a week.
Each year hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of benefits that rightfully should go to older people go unclaimed because they don’t know what they are entitled to.
Benefits advice
The Council’s Welfare Rights Service offers advice about benefits for carers, and the person they look after, and support with making claims.
If you are a carer, contact our advice line on 020 8921 6375 for a free benefit check.
Find out more about the benefits you could claim in our Benefits and grants section.
Recent checks carried out for 235 Greenwich carers resulted in more than £160,000 of extra benefits being claimed. A large part of this money has been for older carers.
Advice for carers
Practical help and advice for carers is available from the Greenwich Carers Centre on 020 8317 9998. The Carers Centre is a registered charity and provides a one-stop-shop for carers living in Greenwich – offering information, support and practical help to adults and young carers.
For information, advice and support about caring for an older person, contact the Orangery in Eltham on 020 8921 2304.
Find out more about services for carers in our Health and social care section.
Contact us for support and help
Cllr David Grant, Cabinet Member for Adults and Older People, said: "Greenwich Council works to ensure that carers get the right support to assist them in their caring role so that they have the same life chances as other people – good health, financial security, the right to a family life, opportunities to work and pursue their own interests.
"We would encourage carers to contact us or the Carers Centre in Greenwich to find out what support and help is available to them."
23 November 2006