Carer poverty must end.

It’s simply unacceptable that nearly half of adults providing 35+ hours of unpaid care a week are living in poverty.

That’s why we’ve joined the Carer Poverty Coalition alongside Carers UK and 90 other organisations across the UK. Together we’ll campaign to put an end to carer poverty and make sure carers are properly financially supported.

Find out more: https://www.carersuk.org/news-and-campaigns/carer-poverty-coalition/

Far too many carers face financial hardship because they care for a family member or friend.

It’s simply unacceptable that 44% of adults providing 35+ hours of unpaid care a week are living in poverty.

That’s why we’re coming together to raise awareness of the devastating impact the cost of living crisis is having on carers, and to put forward solutions to put an end to carer poverty.

Find out more here: https://www.carersuk.org/news-and-campaigns/carer-poverty-coalition/

As members of the Carer Poverty Coalition, collectively we will be campaigning to:

• End poverty amongst carers by advocating for policy change which values, recognises, and supports unpaid carers.
• Reform the benefits system to better support carers financially, in both the short and long term.
• Bring in better systems which support carers to continue with paid work where they wish to do so.
• Build awareness of carer poverty with Government, parliamentarians, decision makers and the public.

Press Release on 14th February 2023

New coalition to end carer poverty launches

• Close to 100 organisations have joined forces to help unpaid carers escape Poverty
• The coalition will campaign for better financial support for carers and changes to enable them to combine paid work with unpaid care.

A dedicated coalition of 93 organisations has come together in an effort to lessen the financial hardship experienced by millions of unpaid carers across the UK.

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 limited financial support available to them. 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 group 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 of £69.70 a week for those caring 35 hours or more each week. A significant number of carers were also using food banks – 8% of those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance. New data suggests that close to one million people in England are claiming Carer’s Allowance.

The coalition is campaigning to see a benefits system that better supports people providing high amounts of unpaid care, along with changes to help carers stay in paid work for longer while caring. A small steering group of current and recent former unpaid carers is providing insight and comments on major policies and plans.