New report shows unpaid carers are 50% more likely to live in poverty

Poverty levels amongst those looking after a friend or family member who is older, disabled or seriously ill are shockingly high, with millions of unpaid carers struggling to make ends meet.  

New research shows that unpaid carers are much more likely to experience financial hardship and that the rate of poverty is 50% higher for those looking after a friend or family member compared to those who do not provide unpaid care.

The report by WPI Economics for Carers UK, which arbdn Financial Fairness Trust funded, shows that a further 400,000 – nearly 1 in 10 of all carers – live in deep poverty.

The report has found that the poverty rate for unpaid carers was 27%, as opposed to the 18% seen in the general population. This gap widens when looking at those who provide more than 35 hours of unpaid care per week, where 43% live in poverty.

The report also outlines possible ways to tackle poverty faced by 1.2 million unpaid carers, including reform to Carer’s Allowance and other benefits.

Vivienne Jackson, Programme Manager at abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, said: 
“The care system would collapse without the vital people who provide unpaid care. It’s not right that those who provide essential services to some of the most vulnerable people in our society are living in poverty. Government and employers need to work together to help lift carers out of poverty.”