The real picture of caring
By Claire Easton, Chief Executive of North Tyneside Carers’ Centre
A recent report by Carers UK found that despite the fact that carers are saving the economy £162 billion a year in England and Wales, many are living in poverty. This research found that 1.2 million unpaid carers live in poverty, and 400,000 live in deep poverty in the UK.
These are shocking figures but not unexpected. There are even more concerning statistics in the report:
- 61% of carers are worried about living costs and whether they can manage in the future, and over a third (35%) do not feel confident that they will be able to manage financially over the next 12 months.
- Over half (51%) of carers said that their financial situation is having a negative impact on their mental health and wellbeing, and 61% feel stressed or anxious when they think about their financial situation.
We also know that the earnings limit for Carer’s Allowance has prevented many working carers from increasing their income which has led to people leaving their jobs. More than 40% of carers surveyed said that they left their paid employment as a result of the earnings limit.
Caring can be challenging and is made even more so by having to face such difficult financial circumstances. At North Tyneside Carers’ Centre we regularly speak to people who say they are cutting back on meals to help pay for heating and are struggling to pay for essential items.
All of this worry has an emotional toll. As the statistics show, financial stress can impact on health and wellbeing. I know many carers regularly sacrifice their own mental and physical health to cope with the responsibilities they face.
This is unacceptable.
Carers provide billions of pounds worth of unpaid care each year, easing the burden on the NHS and social services. But there is very little recognition for the vital role they play in our society.
My role as chief executive of North Tyneside Carers’ Centre is to make sure we provide the best support we can to those carers who need it. If you have someone who depends on you, we will be there to support you.
That could be by providing regular activities and informative sessions to make carers aware of their rights and the help out there for them. It also includes one to one support, advice, a friendly face – as well as specific support to make life as easy as possible with energy and benefits advice.
As a charity supporting carers through these difficult times, we need to see change.
It is encouraging that in the recent Budget the Chancellor announced that the earnings threshold for Carer’s Allowance will be lifted to £196 from April 2025. This will allow carers to work the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage per week. In addition, Carer’s Allowance will increase by 1.7%, to £83.29 a week (previously £81.90).
We also welcome the government’s announcement in October of an independent review into Carer’s Allowance overpayments.
In order to make lasting change we support the call by Carers UK for a National Carers Strategy. This would be a vision for providing the support and recognition that carers need and deserve and would be created in consultation with organisations like ours and other key partners to understand what would really make a difference.
Carers are the backbone of our society and play an absolutely essential role. We need to address these issues that are driving more and more people into poverty, and recognise and support the invaluable contributions they make.
To read the full report click here: https://www.carersuk.org/media/umaifzpq/cuk-state-of-caring-2024-finances-web.pdf
