Help and advice for unpaid carers
An unpaid carer is someone who regularly looks after a family member, friend, neighbour or acquaintance. This care often involves personal support, but it can also mean helping with everyday tasks. It goes beyond occasional help or the kind of support housemates usually give each other. Most unpaid carers provide care out of love, but it can also be demanding and emotionally draining. If you're in this role, help is available.
Steunpunt Mantelzorg Zuid
Steunpunt Mantelzorg Zuid offers advice and practical support to unpaid carers. For example, they can help you find a good balance between caring for someone else and taking time for yourself. They can also arrange a volunteer to step in occasionally so you can take a break. You can also share experiences with others through peer support groups.
Once you register, one of their advisers will arrange a chat with you – by phone or at your home. During this conversation you’ll discuss the care you provide and the kind of help you might need. Support can be tailored to your situation, such as tips for balancing care with your job or information about parking near the person you care for.
Recognition for unpaid carers
Carers could apply for a special token of appreciation from the municipality in recent years. From 2025 you no longer need to apply. You’ll automatically receive a gift card worth €75 each year if you’re registered with Steunpunt Mantelzorg Zuid – no action required.
To be eligible:
- You must provide unpaid care for at least 8 hours a week.
- The person you care for must live in the municipality of Maastricht (you don’t need to live there yourself).
- You must be registered with Steunpunt Mantelzorg Zuid.
Use the button at the top right of the page to register with Steunpunt Mantelzorg Zuid.
In November 2025, around the Day of Unpaid Carers, the gift card will be sent to your home. One gift card is available per person receiving care.
Parking for unpaid carers
Those receiving unpaid care (care recipients) can access 2 parking schemes for their carers.
- For everyone: visitor parking scheme
- Subject to conditions: parking scheme for unpaid care
Check the dropdown menu at the bottom of this page to see if you're eligible and how to apply for the parking scheme for unpaid care.
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Paying for parking near the home of the person you care for can be expensive, especially if you provide over 8 hours of care a week for at least 3 months. To help with this, there’s a special parking scheme for unpaid care. After an appointment with Steunpunt Mantelzorg Zuid, the care recipient can apply for up to 520 hours of free parking per year for their carer in paid parking zones.
Conditions
To qualify, the following conditions must be met:
- The care recipient lives in the municipality of Maastricht.
- The care recipient lives in a paid parking zone in Maastricht.
- The care recipient and the carer do not live in the same parking zone.
- The care recipient receives more than 8 hours of unpaid care per week, for at least 3 months in a row.
- The carer is registered with Steunpunt Mantelzorg Zuid.
Registration
Use the red button at the top of this page to register with Steunpunt Mantelzorg Zuid. After registering, a support advisor will contact you to arrange an intake appointment. During this conversation they’ll assess whether you meet the eligibility criteria.