Carers UK launch carer poverty charter

Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK said, “Government has promised a review of carers’ benefits and pledged that by 2018, carers won’t be forced into financial hardship by caring.

Carers cannot wait - they are falling into poverty and financial hardship now, and need urgent action. Carers’ benefits must be reformed to protect carers from poverty and support carers combine caring with work and study.

We’re calling on the public, along with charities, voluntary organisations and employers to add their voice to this Charter and send a message to government - reform carers’ benefits and end carer poverty now.”

The Charter can be signed at www.carersuk.org and Carers UK plans to present it to the government and all political parties later this summer.

Carers’ Poverty Charter

We, the undersigned, call for an end to carer poverty.

In the National Strategy for Carers the Government pledged that, by 2018 ‘carers will be supported so that they are not forced into financial hardship by their caring role.’

Carers cannot wait. Too many are living in poverty and financial hardship now – struggling to afford the basic costs of living, unable to study or work without their benefits being cut-off or facing the removal of their allowance when they start to claim their pension.

The UK’s 6 million carers save the country an estimated £87 billion per year. In return, the main carer’s benefit is the lowest of its kind, paid at only £53.10 a week for a minimum of 35 hours caring, equivalent to £1.52 per hour – far short of the national minimum wage of £5.73 per hour.

We call upon the Government to set out an urgent timetable of action to improve carers’ benefits and income. The carers’ benefits system must:

• Protect carers from  falling into poverty or financial hardship
• Reflect carers’ different circumstances
• Help carers to combine caring with paid work and study
• Be easy to understand and straightforward to claim 
  

Supporting Charities

Alzheimer's Society, Carers UK, Counsel and Care, Crossroads Caring for Carers, Every Disabled Child Matters, Mencap, Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Rethink, Vitalise.

Carers UK press office:

Steven McIntosh: 0207 378 4937, steve.mcintosh@carersuk.org
Emily Holzhausen: 0207 378 4935, emily.holzhausen@carersuk.org
Weekends and out of hours: 07505 184262 

Notes to editors:

1. Carers UK is a campaigning, policy and information organisation of and for carers. Carers UK makes 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

2. Carers UK believes that Carer's Allowance is an outdated benefit and is not fit for purpose:

• It does not pay different rates for the type or intensity of care nor for the numbers of people cared for, meaning that someone caring for two people only gets one allowance
• It has a complicated and confusing process for claiming, particularly the interaction with other benefits
• It is paid at a lower level than other 'income-maintenance benefits', leaving carers at risk of poverty or forced to rely on means-tested benefits
• It has a cliff-edge earnings limit of £95 per week so if a carer earns more than this they lose their entire benefit.
• It also cannot be claimed when studying for more than 21 hours per week, which prevents carers from gaining qualifications for future employment.
• It cannot be claimed alongside a State Pension, leaving many older carers with no recognition of their caring role.