New research by Carers UK reveals that family members caring round the clock for loved ones who are older, disabled or seriously ill are being plunged into debt and struggling to afford food and bills during the cost-of-living crisis. A survey of more than 12,400 current unpaid carers found that one in six (16%) are now in debt as they try to manage their monthly costs.

Those who have been caring for more than five years are struggling most, with one in five (19%) in debt compared to 9% of people caring for less than five years.

Those receiving Carer’s Allowance - just £69.70 a week for people providing 35 hours or more of unpaid care each week - are worst affected. Two in five (40%) of carers receiving Carer’s Allowance are in debt as they try to manage their costs. More than a third (35%) are cutting back on food and heating, with four in ten (39%) saying they are struggling to make ends meet.

The report makes a number of both short and long-term recommendations, calling for UK Government to support unpaid carers through the coming winter months and to take steps to improve carers’ financial stability in the longer term. Carers UK is calling on the UK Government to immediately provide additional and targeted financial support for unpaid carers, including:

1. Providing a top up payment to unpaid carers with an entitlement to Carer’s Allowance to support them through the winter in recognition of the additional costs they are facing.
2. Uprating all benefits, including Carer’s Allowance and the Carer Element of Universal Credit, in line with current levels of inflation before next April – ideally as soon as possible – to ensure that vulnerable groups can survive the winter months.
3. Raising the earnings limit for Carer’s Allowance to the value of 21 hours work a week at the National Living Wage rate (£199.50 at 2022/23 rates), to allow carers to work more hours a week where they wish to do so, without losing their entitlement.

Read the full report.