Carers urged to join new campaign

People who care for elderly, sick or disabled relatives or friends, unpaid, are being asked to sign up at www.carersuk.org to help tell their stories about the financial hardships and challenges that they face as a direct result of being a carer.

There are 6 million carers living in the UK. 

The move follows the publication of a deeply worrying new report on the long term financial impact of caring by Carers UK today (Wednesday, 30 May 2007). 

Based on a survey of nearly 3,000 carers, it finds they face a severe financial penalty as soon as they start caring, unpaid, for a disabled or chronically ill relative or friend. The key findings are:

• 72% are worse off since they started caring
• 65% are not in paid work
• 54% give up work to care
• 53% say that financial worries are affecting their health
• 33% are in debt
• 30% are cutting back on food or heating
• 10% cannot afford to pay their rent or mortgage

The survey shows that carers are having to sell their homes, cut back on food, heating and clothes, give up their jobs, and sacrifice their pensions - leaving many deeply worried about their financial future.

It reveals very clearly that the current benefits system does not allow carers an acceptable standard of living and neither recognises nor values them for the contribution they make to the national economy – carers’ support is worth a staggering £87 billion per year to the state.

Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK says:

“Carers feel short-changed by the system because the benefits system for care is so outdated and the support they need to balance work and caring is not there.

“Carers’ benefits simply are not fit for purpose”, Imelda Redmond continues.  “They were designed in the 1970s when the world was a very different place. We’re calling for a radical overhaul of the benefits system. We want carers to sign up to the Real change, not short change campaign to ease the constant financial pressure carers face and give carers them the same opportunities as everyone else to work, study and bring up their families.”

Imelda Redmond concludes, “It is time we looked at income, benefits and opportunities to work for carers as a whole. The National Carers Strategy review is a golden opportunity to get it right.”

Visit www.carersuk.org to sign up to the campaign.

- ends -

29 May 2007

Further information

Notes to editors

1. Spokespeople and case studies and local contacts are available through contacting the numbers above.

2.         Further statistics for your town or local authority are available based on the 2001 Census. Please contact Carers UK

3.         A pdf version of the final report, ‘Real Change, not short change’, with the executive summary is available to download. Download report (2MB)

4.         The findings are based on 2,950 questionnaires received from respondents living in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Separate figures are available. The survey was carried out between December 2006 and January 2007.

5.         The first National Strategy for Carers was launched by the Prime Minister in 1999. In February 2007 the Chancellor Gordon Brown announced that the National Carers Strategy would be reviewed and would include a far-reaching nationwide consultation with carers.

6.         Carer’s Allowance is the main benefit for carers. It is worth £48.65 per week for providing a minimum of 35 hours of care.  It is paid at this rate regardless of how much care is provided.

7.         Carers Week runs from 11 to 18 June 2007, the theme of which is “My Life as a Carer”. 

8.         About Carers UK

Carers UK is the leading campaigning, policy and information organisation of and for carers. Carers UK continues to make a difference to carers' lives by: campaigning for a better deal for carers; informing carers of their rights and what help is available; training and advising professionals who work with carers; working across the UK through its membership and networks of branches and affiliates. For more information, visit www.carersuk.org or for advice on your caring situation call CarersLine on T. 0808 808 7777

Visit www.carersuk.org

9.         This work has been funded as part of the Action for Carers and Employment project.   (ACE) National is a development partnership led by Carers UK and funded by the European Social Fund’s Equal programme which raises awareness of the barriers facing carers who wish to work, and tests and promotes ways of supporting them. Visit www.acecarers.org.uk