Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:

“Today’s spring statement confirms that the Government’s welfare reform plans will include the first substantial cuts to Carer’s Allowance in decades, realising many carers’ worst fears. This is an unprecedented step in the wrong direction and must be swiftly rectified.

“According to the DWP’s impact assessment, changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) entitlement rules will see 150,000 people lose their entitlement to carers’ benefits by 2029/30 - a reduction in financial support for carers worth £500 million.

“PIP is a ‘gateway’ benefit impacting eligibility for further support for carers, for whom the knock-on effect is both shocking and shameful. This will cause huge anxiety for hard-pressed carers and their families who need every penny they can get to pay their bills. 1.2 million unpaid carers already live in poverty, and 400,000 live in deep poverty in the UK.

“Carers save the UK economy an estimated £184 billion a year, but now many more are in danger of further financial hardship and poverty. They deserve so much more. The repercussions of today’s changes will be felt deeply by those who for too long, have been our last line of defence – providing vital support which simply can’t be found elsewhere.”