Eligiblity
The Covid -19 pandemic highlighted a gap in public awareness of the social contribution made by paid and unpaid carers working hard in our communities. The Social Care Sector deserves the same recognition as other valued services, this card is one step in that direction.
The Blue Sky Card widely covers the Social Care Sector:
- Unpaid Carers
- Paid Carers, Support Workers or Personal Assistants
- Care Home/Agency Workers
- Self Employed Carers/Personal Assistants
- Anyone working in Social Care, including Social Workers
- Volunteer & Community Sector
- User Led Organisation (ULO) workers, such as a charity
- Direct payment or Personal Budget Employers
- Access to Work Employees/Employers
- Users of Direct Payments / Personal Health Budgets / Independent Living Funds
- Foster Carers
- Housing Association Workers
- Anyone providing a service to Social Care
Evidence applicants can provide
- Carer’s allowance
- Contract of employment
- Payslip
- Employer’s note
- Doctor’s note
Unpaid Carers can provide different evidence to prove their caring status.
Am I Eligible?
The Blue Sky Social Care Card generally covers the whole of the social care sector. Take our short eligibility quiz below to find out if you are eligible!
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I eligible for The Blue Sky Social Care Card?
Everyone working in the social care sector or supporting someone is eligible for a Blue Sky Social Care Card, including, Unpaid carers, Volunteers and Self Employed Personal Individuals. See full eligibility list – https://blueskycard.uk/eligibility/
How do I apply?
Apply online today using our online form
What evidence do I need to provide on my application form?
We accept multiple types of evidence in order to verify your application for a Blue Sky Social Care Card, including:
- Contract of employment
- Payslip
- PIP
- Disability allowance
- Carer’s allowance
- Employer’s note
- Doctor’s note
Note: unpaid carers can use evidence from the person they care for (PIP etc.)
Evidence needs to be dated within 3 months, exceptions apply.
If you are self employed we accept:
- Public liability insurance
- A blank invoice without client details
Unpaid-carer eligibility criteria
- Currently provide unpaid care, help or support to another person.
- Care for someone because of illness, disability, a mental-health condition, addiction, frailty or needs associated with older age.
- Have an ongoing or recurring caring responsibility—not simply providing a one-off favour or occasional informal help.
- Provide the care outside paid employment.
- Can demonstrate the caring relationship through acceptable evidence or enhanced verification.
- Complete the required identity, consent and fraud declarations.
There is no minimum number of caring hours. Eligibility is based on the genuine nature, responsibility and continuity of the caring role—not whether someone provides nine, 20 or 35 hours per week.
Examples of eligible caring responsibilities
- Personal care or help with daily living
- Medication support or oversight
- Attending or arranging appointments
- Transport to treatment
- Communication or advocacy support
- Managing correspondence, bills or finances
- Emotional support during distress or crises
- Supervision or safeguarding
- Support with mental health or addiction
- Remaining available for emergencies
Evidence applicants can provide
- A letter from a local authority, NHS service, GP, social prescriber or healthcare professional
- A letter or confirmation from a recognised carers organisation
- A carer’s assessment or relevant care-plan extract
- Hospital discharge correspondence naming the carer
- School or college correspondence confirming the caring role
- Carer’s Allowance or carer-element evidence, where applicable
- Verification from an approved professional or carers organisation
- Other official correspondence that clearly confirms the applicant’s caring role
- Evidence relating to the cared-for person, such as a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) award letter, where the cared-for person's details have been provided on the application form and the evidence helps demonstrate the applicant's caring role.
You may qualify for the Blue Sky Social Care Card if you currently provide regular unpaid care, help or support to a family member, friend or another person because of illness, disability, a mental-health condition, addiction, frailty or needs associated with older age.
There is no minimum number of caring hours. We consider the nature, responsibility and continuity of your caring role rather than hours alone. You will need to provide suitable evidence so that our trained team can verify your unpaid-carer status.
