The Carers UK State of Caring 2024 survey report, funded by abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, found that unpaid carers are finding it increasingly difficult to afford day-to-day living costs and are taking drastic measures to cope with their financial situation.
This year’s survey found that:
· 61% of unpaid carers are worried about living costs and managing in the future, and over a third (35%) don’t feel confident they will be able to manage financially over the next 12 months
· 28% of carers are cutting back on essentials like food and heating, an increase from 25% in 2022.
· 68% of carers have cut back on hobbies and leisure activities and 60% have reduced time spent seeing family and friends
· Over half of carers (51%) said that their financial situation is having a negative impact on their mental health, and 61% feel stressed or anxious when they think about their financial situation.
· 42% of carers on Carer’s Allowance are struggling to make ends meet, compared to 27% of all carers, and 19% of carers in receipt of Universal Credit use food banks compared to 7% of all carers.
These findings support recent research which found that 1.2 million carers are living in poverty. Carers UK is calling on the Government to urgently review the current support provided to unpaid carers through the social security system, reform Carer’s Allowance and increasing the earnings threshold for carers who are able to continue with paid work.
