East Sussex Carers Card

You can apply for a free Carers Card if you live in or care for someone who lives in East Sussex.

The East Sussex Carers Card does three things:

• Identifies you as a carer, and that someone depends on you in an emergency
• The option to connect to a back-up respite plan
• A discount card, giving carers savings at businesses across East Sussex.

The Carers Card enables you to set up a CRESS (Carers Respite Emergency Support Service) plan with East Sussex County Council. This includes contact details for up to three people who could provide short-term support for the person you care for in an emergency

You will have the Carers Card to carry with you, so that in an emergency, you or someone else can call the number on the card. When this happens, East Sussex County Council will contact the people you have named in your emergency plan.

If none of your contacts are available, or if there are no other people you can identify to act as an emergency contact, Adult Social Care will provide support to look after the person you care for. This card is available to unpaid carers of adults.

Care for the Carers can help you to set up a CRESS plan, or it can be set up with the Council directly as part of your Carer’s Assessment.

The Carers Card with CRESS also gives you access to the discounts  – you don’t need a separate card. To find out more and to apply for a combined CRESS plan and Carers Card, please contact us.