York unpaid carer: "Pay carers properly because Carer's Allowance is a kick in the teeth"
One in five unpaid carers are worried they may not cope financially over the next 12 months.
Over one in five unpaid carers (21%) are worried they may not cope financially over the next 12 months, reveals new research from the charity Carers UK. This is on top of deep concern about practical support where just 13% of carers are confident they will get the practical support they need in the next 12 months.
A survey of over 8,000 people currently caring unpaid for family or friends, the majority of whom provide well over 50 hours of care every week, reveals the huge personal and financial cost of caring for a loved one. Nearly one in four carers (23%) do not have enough money to cover their monthly expenses. Many carers are worrying about how they will cope this winter face rising energy prices and increases in the cost of living.
As well as providing significant levels of care themselves, almost two thirds (63%) of carers are also using their own income or savings to cover the cost of care, equipment or products for the person they care for. On average carers spend an estimated £1,370 a year on services or equipment for the person they care for.
The situation has got worse during the pandemic with over one in three carers (36%) saying that their financial situation has worsened since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and a quarter (25%) are spending more on equipment or products for the person they care for.
As a result many are struggling financially and unable to save for their own retirement. Almost two-thirds of carers (65%) say they are worried about their ability to save and plan for the future.
The financial strain is also damaging carers’ mental health with over half (52%) reporting they feel anxious or stressed about their finances, and over one in three carers (35%) providing more than 35 hours of care a week said they have been or are in debt.
Carers are still having to take on more hours of care for the person they care for, with 55% of carers having reduced or no access to day services and a third of carers reporting reduced or no access to paid care workers.
Katherine Macy is an unpaid young carer in York, and has been caring for her mum since the age of 10:
"The last few months as an unpaid carer have been quite stressful, especially as a lot of the country have been acting as if everything's okay. It's difficult to balance getting on with things with also making sure that you and the people you care for are safe and protected.
"It's been a really difficult balance for me (seeing people), especially as so many of my family and friends are at least a train ride away, if not trains, tubes and buses. It's all about evaluating the spikes, trying to stay safe, continuing to wear a mask even if people around you aren't and doing the best you can whilst looking after your mental health.
"If anything, the easing of restrictions has made finances tighter; often you don't have an excuse to not meet up with people. Cups of tea and coffee that you wouldn't be paying for you are now; whilst these are arguably luxuries sometimes you just want to see your friends and catch up.
"The rise in prices and shortages have been difficult as well. Pennies add up as a carer."
Katherine says more support for unpaid carers like herself is needed. She adds that too many people are having to choose between future career prospects and caring for loved ones, because of the financial pressures:
"There's so much that's so simple to support unpaid carers. Things like ensuring that carer centres don't have to worry about finances every nine months because their contracts are being renewed.
"Pay carers properly because Carer's Allowance is such a kick in the teeth, especially when so many of us know that if we weren't supporting the person we care for it would be so much more money to find someone to do that caring.
"I know a lot of people have to give up on their education to care for the person that they love, because unfortunately everything comes down to money and whether or not you can afford the rent.
"A better Carer's Allowance that is more widely applicable to more carers is the one thing that I would like to see happen".
Mike Padgham, Chair of the Independent Care Group North Yorkshire, said:
"The country is short of social care workers and unpaid carers are going to be relied on more in the future. That's a stressful job in the best of times and what makes it worse is that they sometimes have to give up work or work part-time to look after their loved ones.
"That in 2021 isn't acceptable and I call on government to fund social care and unpaid carers properly so that if they do have to leave work they can do so without the financial strain.
"There is a limit what any human being can do. It's up to us to lobby our MPs to say enough is enough. Caring for people is a full-time job and it needs remuneration."
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:
"We are seeing unprecedented levels of stress where financial worry is piling yet more pressure on carers. With low levels of services, carers are going to be facing an extremely difficult winter with the rising costs of living, increased energy prices, a social care staffing crisis and a chronically underfunded system.
"For years carers have been propping up our health and care system at a huge cost to their own personal health, finances and ability to stay in work. Throughout the pandemic they carried a huge load, with 81% taking on more care for relatives and 72% unable to take any breaks at all from their caring role.
"They desperately need support to regain quality of life and enable them to continue caring. The Government must recognise the toll being placed on unpaid carers and ensure that social care reform delivers for carers.
"As it stands, providing unpaid care is pushing thousands of families into poverty and will have a lasting impact on their finances and quality of life. Carer’s Allowance the lowest benefit of its kind must be reviewed. The Earning Threshold of Carer’s Allowance must be increased to ensure that carers are able to choose to work and are protected from financial hardship."
Carers UK estimates the number of unpaid carers increased by 4.5 million at the height of the pandemic to 13.6 million.