Carers lose £11,000 a year in earnings

Financial compensation through the Carer’s Allowance benefit – provided a carer is eligible by earning under £95 a week – is just £48.65 a week.

The findings, published by Carers UK in the report ‘Out of Pocket’, come from a Carers UK survey¹ of 3,000 carers which shows the extent of the financial difficulties which carers face – particularly older carers in their late fifties and early sixties, and those who are caring for more than
50 hours a week.

Currently around one in five of the UK’s 4.4 million carers of working age have to give up their employment in order to care.  Men lose out on an average of £13,681 per annum compared to an average of £10,083 per annum for women. 

Nearly 45 per cent of working age carers say that they would like to work but more than a third (38%) say they cannot work unless they have the right care services.

“This report demonstrates for the first time the extent of the financial penalty faced by carers through showing the amount of earning lost by carers annually.” Says Roz Williamson, Director of Carers Wales.
 
“Besides the monetary penalties of caring there are other negative consequences to giving up work, such as the loss of workplace skills, social isolation and reduced confidence. This makes it much harder for carers to return to work in the future. It also means that they are less able to save for their retirement or for their own future care needs.”

The same research study for Carers UK finds that a third of carers are in debt and one in ten cannot afford their rent or mortgage.

The main reasons that carers are often forced to give up work or reduce their hours are:

o lack of appropriate support services
Between 40 and 50 percent of working carers say that a lack of flexibility and sensitivity in the delivery of services hampers them in obtaining support.  Only 25 per cent say that they have adequate support from formal services for them to be able to combine work and care.²

o a lack of flexibility at work, or unsupportive colleagues
More than half those surveyed said that their employers are ‘carer-friendly’² and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) recently found that employers had accepted 93 per cent of requests – either in full or with an agreed compromise. However, anecdotally, calls to the Carers UK’s helpline indicate that awareness is low among some managers, proving the importance of training and designing policies for carers.

o benefit rules which stop carers from working The fact that carers can only earn £95 a week to receive the Carer’s Allowance which traps them in low-wage jobs.

o a refusal by the person they care for to accept formal care services
This highlights the need for flexible and appropriate services which looks at the support the family requires as a whole – and possibly a service to help the carer.

Carers UK and Carers Wales have submitted extensive recommendations to the Welsh Assembly Government and Westminster, pushing for changes that will improve carers’ lives and ensure they have the same right as everyone else to an ordinary life that includes access to work, education and leisure.

Key recommendations include:

o A complete overhaul of the way health and social care services are provided, with a much stronger focus on supporting carers with innovative and forward-thinking policies to remain in or return to work.

o Greater investment in social care - improving training, status and pay in the social carer workforce, stimulation of the care market and greater resources for support agencies.

o New legislation to make it illegal to discriminate against carers

o A full review of carers’ benefits

o A new social contract for carers which makes it clear what the state, employers, families and other services will provide, and what individuals have to contribute.

o The right to request flexible working to all employees – to make it the norm and reduce any stigma

o Jobcentre Plus to make carers a priority group

o Better information and advice for carers

“Although we have moved forward in terms of helping working-age carers, there is still a long way to go to give carers a genuine choice about whether they can work or not, or what job they may wish to do.” continues Roz Williamson.

 “We now have strong evidence from carers themselves. We need the political will across Government to go that bit further - to recognise the challenges that carers face and give them the life choices we take for granted.”

The evidence shows that information and advice plays a vital role in ensuring that carers can make choices about their lives – getting a bit of extra support, like meals on wheels, help in the morning, or new technology, extra financial help or having different work patterns can give carers the vital choice about staying in work or not.  

To help carers make these choices, Carers UK has produced a new updated free guide for carers, to coincide with Carers Rights Day, to find out about their rights and entitlements so that they are able to make these choices.  Looking after someone: a guide to carers rights and benefits is available by calling the Carers UK helpline: 0808 808 7777 or by visiting www.carersuk.org.

The theme of Carers Rights Day 2007, which is run by Carers UK, is ‘Caring Costs’. Countrywide, a record number of nearly 1,200 groups have signed up to take part in events and activities.

For further information about Carers Rights Day, please visit www.carersuk.org/Newsandcampaigns/CarersRightsDay

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¹Out of Pocket, a survey of carers’ lost incomes, published by Carers UK. Published in May 2007 by Carers UK. The survey was from nearly 3,000 carers carried out during January 2007.   The report is available from www.carersuk.org.

²Carers, Employment and Services Report Series, Carers UK. 2007

Further information on the report:
Kate Groucutt T. 0845 241 2547 M. 07855 383 445 email: kate.groucutt@carersuk.org. 
or Patricia Orr / Julia Pitman. T. 020 7592 1980/1990  M. 07889 140 139
email: pat@thirdsectorpr.co.uk

Notes to Editors

1. Spokespeople and case studies are available. Please contact : 
Roz Williamson T: 029 2081 1370 M: 0786 654 4066
Maggie Titterton T: 029 2081 1370 M:0786 653 9075 (Cymraeg)
Beth Evans T: 029 2081 1370 beth.evans@carerswales.org (Cymraeg )

 
2. To find out about events in your area please visit http://www.carersuk.org/Newsandcampaigns/CarersRightsDay/Events2007

3. Carers UK and Carers Wales are the leading campaigning, policy and information organisation of and for carers. Carers UK continues to make 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. For more information, visit www.carersuk.org or for advice on your caring situation call CarersLine on T. 0808 808 7777.

4. Carers Rights Day 2007 is being supported by Tunstall and part funded the European Social Fund under its EQUAL Community Initiative Programme.

5. Tunstall is the market leading provider of telecare and telehealth solutions, with over 2.5 million users globally.   Tunstall’s solutions support older people and those with long-term needs, to live independently,  by effectively managing their health and well-being.  Tunstall provides technology, expertise and advice to millions of people enabling them to lead independent and more fulfilling lives.  For more information on how telecare and telehealth can improve quality of life, visit www.tunstall.co.uk.   For press enquiries contact Emma Roper: 01977 661234 or e_roper@tunstall.co.uk

Published by Carers UK
Carers National Association, trading as Carers UK, is registered in England as a company limited by guarantee 864097. Registered charity number 246329. Registered Office 32-36 Loman Street Southwark London SE1 0EE