Sussex unpaid carers forced to cut back on essentials to make ends meet
61% of unpaid carers across the UK are worried how they'll afford future living costs
It's claimed unpaid carers - including in Sussex - are having to cut back on food and heating just to make ends meet.
Data from Carers UK suggests 61% percent of carers are worried about how they'll afford living costs in the future.
Unpaid carers are more at risk of financial hardship compared to people who don't provide care - and often face additional bills associated with their caring role.
Ann Jeffrey - who cares full time for her mum with dementia in Crawley - said she has to "switch off the cooker and the microwave":
"It all gets switched off if I'm not using it, because I have medical equipment that - if I do switch it off - alarm bells go. "I have to have these things plugged in all the time."
Figures from the survey also found that the earnings limit for Carer’s Allowance is preventing many carers in paid employment from increasing their income.
62% of those claiming Carer’s Allowance said they had been unable to work more hours of take on higher paid work.
20% had an overpayment of Carer’s Allowance and 41% said that they left their paid employment because of the earnings limit.
This month, the Secretary of State of Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, announced that the Government will commission an independent review of Carer’s Allowance overpayments – to assess how these have been accrued on such a vast scale.
Helen Walker, Chief Executive at Carers UK, said:
“Despite the fact that carers are saving the economy an astonishing £162 billion a year in England and Wales alone, many carers are living in poverty.
Increasing costs in recent years have had a concerning impact and we are now seeing carers take increasingly drastic measures in order to cope with difficult financial situations.
“It is heart-breaking to read comments from carers in this year’s survey. For those in challenging caring roles, further financial pressures can make a difficult situation intolerable.
It is also hard to hear unpaid carers tell us that they are unable to have a life outside of caring because there is no money for anything but the essentials.
“It is unacceptable that so many carers are still struggling with their finances whilst providing so much for society.
Many carers would like to work more hours or return to work, however, with the inflexible Carer’s Allowance earnings limit this is often not possible.
Without targeted support, many more risk further isolation and falling deeper into poverty.”