Carers Failed By Benefits System

The punishing financial implications of looking after a disabled or chronically ill relative are revealed in new research that shows almost three-quarters of people are worse off as a result of caring.

Carers have been forced to cut back on food and heating and even sell their homes to offset the financial burden, according to the report by Carers UK. The charity also said the situation was likely to get worse, as it predicted an additional three million carers would be needed over the next 30 years.

Campaigners said the findings proved the current benefit system does not work in the interests of carers and called for a full review into the incomes and services of those providing unpaid support.

Louise Moffatt, from carer’s charity Contact a Family, said: “The cost of caring can be devastating. We’ve seen families forced to move into housing association properties to make ends meet. Even if it doesn’t get that far, you’re talking about people missing out on the things the rest of us take for granted: holidays, treating themselves at the hairdressers. It can be very dis-spiriting.”

More than half of the 3,000 people surveyed said they had given up employment in order to look after a dependent, with a similar amount stating that financial worries were affecting their health. A third of carers are in debt, while one in 10 said they could not afford to pay their rent or mortgage, according to the survey.

The work of carers is estimated to be worth more than £50 billion a year to the state. However, 64% of carers are not in paid work. Carers are entitled to a range of benefits including disability living allowance, carer’s allowance and child tax credits (if they look after a disabled child). Intended as an earnings replacement benefit, carer’s allowance is the lowest benefit of its kind at £48.65 per week.

Campaigners say the situation is made worse as many carers are ignorant of their benefit entitlement. Ms Moffatt said: “When you have the emotional stress of finding out a loved-one is suffering from a serious illness, then the last thing on your mind is working out your finances. The government could and should make things much easier for carers.”

Case Study

Don Jones gave up a well-paid job working as an engineer at British Aerospace to take over the care of 60-year-old sister Sheila when his parents died. Within a year Don, 63, had run up debts of £8,000 as he was forced to rely on a meagre benefit allowance to survive.

“I’d had a good wage as an engineer for Aerospace and suddenly I was living on benefits,” he says. “I knew carers could claim an allowance but I had no idea it would be just £48 per week.”

Don began to suffer from depression as he tried to readjust to life as a carer. “My sister Sheila was born with a learning disability and my parents cared for her their whole 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.”

Don survives on pensions benefits and carer’s allowance. “I’ve had to make some tough choices and cut right back, even on things like food shopping,” he says. “Things I used to take for granted like holidays and clothes are now an unaffordable luxury.”