Adult carers, Parent carers, Professionals, Young adult carers
Today we are one of the 93 charities and organisations who have come together to form a coalition to end carer poverty.
The Carer Poverty Coalition 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 in crisis
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.
Carer steering group
A small steering group of current and recent former unpaid carers is providing insight and comments on major policies and plans.