State of Caring Carers UK State of Caring 2017 Report | Page 20

STATE OF CARING REPORT 2017
Costs of caring
The UK’s 6.5 million unpaid carers provide the majority
of care for families, saving the economy an estimated
£132 billion per year. 3 Yet Carer’s Allowance is the
lowest benefit of its kind, at just £62.70 a week
(2017/18 rates), and carers often report struggling
financially. We regularly hea r of families facing
difficulties making ends meet and affording their basic
living costs alongside the additional costs associated
with caring. Financial constraints are made worse by
many carers being forced to give up work as a result of
their caring responsibilities, removing their opportunities
to support themselves while they are supporting others.
We positively recognise the fact that the UK
Government chose to protect carers’ benefits by
allowing it to rise in line with the Consumer Price Index
whilst other benefits remained frozen. However, the fact
that many carers also depend on means tested benefits
that are frozen means that carers and their families are
far from unaffected by this policy.
Almost half (48%) of carers responding to the survey
reported living on a household income of less than
£1,500 per month and nearly 4 out of 10 carers (39%)
described themselves as struggling to make ends meet.
As many as 8% of those responding to the survey said
they were living in a household receiving under £500 in
monthly income. We’re treading a fine line, keeping
our heads just above water
Those who provided care for over 50 hours a week
were slightly more likely to be living on a low income,
with the majority (52%) of this group reporting that
their household monthly income was below £1,500,
whilst sandwich carers and those providing care to a
disabled child were most likely to describe themselves
as struggling to make ends meet. We had to declare bankruptcy and
lost our house as a direct result of
caring responsibilities when I gave up
work. My son was too poorly at birth
for me to be able to work
On the other hand, carers who were themselves in paid
work or who lived in a household where someone was
in paid work, were more likely than other groups to have
a household income over £1,500 (67%), whilst older
people were the most likely to say they can afford their
bills without struggling financially (69%).
As I am currently in employment l
can pay my bills but if I give up work
to be a carer full time we will be on
the breadline
When we asked how carers who are struggling to make
ends meet cope, a number of people reported cutting
back on items and activities which are fundamental to
their wellbeing, such as hobbies and leisure activities
(53%), seeing friends and family (42%) and essentials,
like food and heating (31%). Almost 1 in 10 of those
who said they were struggling (9%) also reported
cutting back on support services which help them
directly with caring.
“At 49 with no extra income, I am
worried about the future. We are
using savings we can’t replace
Carers UK, University of Sheffield, University of Leeds (2015)
Valuing Carers 2015; the rising value of carers’ support
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