We've joined the new coalition to end carer poverty

Almost 100 organisations have come together to form a new coalition to campaign to lessen the financial hardship experienced by millions of unpaid carers across the UK.

Everyday across the UK the work of unpaid carers helps hold society together however, providing care to family and friends limits their ability to earn a full income and adds extra costs and strain that they would not otherwise have

The Carer Poverty Coalition, which includes a mixture of charities and local organisations, aims to build awareness of carer poverty and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis on unpaid carers, and improve the benefits system to better supports people providing high amounts of unpaid care. Crucially, the coalition will also look at what carers need to support them to continue with paid work, alongside their caring role, for as long as possible.

 

The coalition is being led by Carers UK, the national charity supporting and representing those with an unpaid caring responsibility for someone who has a disability, illness, mental health condition or who needs extra help as they grow older. Carers UK research released last autumn revealed that one in four carers (25%) was cutting back on food or heating to make ends meet during the cost-of-living crisis, rising to 35% of those receiving Carer’s Allowance – the main benefit for those caring 35 hours or more each week. New data suggests that close to one million people in England are claiming Carer’s Allowance.

Helen Walker of Carers UK said:

“Everyday across the UK the work of unpaid carers helps hold society together – however, providing care to family and friends limits their ability to earn a full income and adds extra costs and strain that they would not otherwise have. Too often, due to a lack of recognition and support, unpaid carers end up falling into poverty or find themselves in precarious financial positions as a direct result of their caring role.

“As a coalition, we believe carers deserve better. There is a clear moral as well as economic argument for supporting unpaid carers to live on a decent income and for supporting those able to continue with paid work whilst caring to stay in work. We hope Government and policy makers will see this too.”