Unpaid carers in Newtown are being urged to ensure they are claiming for cash support available.
Anyone looking after someone with a health condition or disability have been urged to check if they are eligible for the Carers Allowance.
Powys County Council has put the call out to support those people who are carrying out this extremely valuable role.
Dylan Owen, Head of Commissioning, said: "We believe that some unpaid carers in Powys are not claiming the Carers Allowance of £67.25 per week at the moment and they may be entitled to do so."
Mr Owen explained that to qualify for the benefit, unpaid carers must fulfil the following criteria:
- The person you care for must be getting a qualifying benefit, such as Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payments, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or the Armed Forces Independent Payment;
- You need to be providing care for at least 35 hours per week. If you provide fewer hours of care, you may be able to claim Carers Credit - a scheme to support National Insurance contributions;
- You need to be earning less than £128 after tax and some expenses;
- You must be aged over 16;
- You must not be in full time education;
- You need to have lived in the UK for two out of the last three years.
He added: "If you think you may be entitled to this allowance, please get in touch with our colleagues at Credu, who are commissioned by this council to support carers in Powys. They will have specialist knowledge of the allowance and will be able to advise you accordingly."
Credu can be contacted by phone on 01597 823800 or by emailing carers@credu.cymru. Alternatively, you can find Credu online at www.credu.cymru