Facts about caring

Many carers say they feel ignored and invisible and have to constantly battle for the most meagre of services.  The social care system is seriously underfunded and in crisis. This has devastating consequences for disabled people and a knock on effect for carers who have no option but to fill the gap. Many carers are outside the social care system and get no help whatsoever. The public’s expectations of what the state will provide should a person require care are widely different from the harsh reality. Carers are being short changed by a system that doesn’t recognise their contribution to society.

Carers UK is working to create a world where carers are fully valued for their contribution and get the help they and their loved ones need

1 in 8 adults (around six million people) are carers.

• By 2037, it's anticipated that the number of carers will increase to 9 million
• Every day another 6,000 people take on a caring responsibility - that equals over 2 million people each year.
• 58% of carers are women and 42% are men
• Over 1 million people care for more than one person

Carers save the economy £87 billion per year, an average of £15,260 per carer

• Over 3 million people juggle care with work, however the significant demands of caring mean that 1 in 5 carers are forced to give up work altogether.
• The main carer's benefit is £53.10 for a minimum of 35 hours, equivalent to £1.52 per hour - far short of the national minimum wage of £5.73 per hour

People providing high levels of care are twice as likely to be permanently sick or disabled

• 625,000 people suffer mental and physical ill health as a direct consequence of the stress and physical demands of caring.
• 1.25 million people provide over 50 hours of care per week