Carers Out of Pocket

Out of pocket : A survey of carers’ lost earnings

New research from Carers UK shows that carers lost out on an average of £11,050 in earnings last year due to giving up work, cutting their hours or taking a more junior position.

The findings, published by Carers UK in the report ‘Out of Pocket’, come from a Carers UK survey of carers which shows the extent of the financial difficulties they face. 1,093 carers gave details of their lost earnings over the previous year. Carers in their late fifties and early sixties faced the biggest loss in earnings. Those aged 60-64 lost most at £13,220. These carers face forced early retirement and a reduced pension.

Currently around one in five of the nation’s 4.4 million carers of working age have to give up their employment in order to care. 

“This report demonstrates for the first time the extent of the financial penalty faced by carers through showing the amount of earnings lost by carers annually.” says Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK.

“Besides the monetary penalties of caring there are other negative consequences to giving up work, such as the loss of workplace skills, social isolation and reduced confidence. This makes it much harder for carers to return to work in the future. It also means that they are less able to save for their retirement or for their own future care needs.” 

Don Jones, a carer from Bristol gave up a well paid job to care for his sister Sheila who was born with a learning disability.

"My parents cared for Sheila all their lives. When they died my sister was all I had left. I knew I would step in and take care of her. Although I’d seen what caring had done to my parents, I only thought it would be temporary and didn’t realise quite what a devastating impact being a carer would have on my life.

Within a couple of months of starting caring I knew I had no option but to give up work. I’d had a good wage as an engineer for British Aerospace and suddenly I was living on benefits. I knew carers could claim an allowance but I had no idea it would be just £48 per week. Frankly it’s insulting.

People have no idea how hard it is to look after someone round the clock. It is especially hard at the beginning, when you get no help or support. Money is always a worry. I ended up £8,000 in debt just so I could pay for the things my sister needed. I’ve had to make some tough choices and cut right back, even on things like food shopping. Things I used to take for granted like holidays and clothes are now an unaffordable luxury.

It would cost thousands to keep my sister in residential care. Don’t get me wrong I want her to have her own life and I want to help her achieve that for as long as possible. But all the same surely as a carer I’m worth more than £48 per week?"

Out of Pocket : A survey of carers’ lost earnings

• Read UK press release
• Read Scotland press release
• Read Northern Ireland press release