Real change not short change
Enough is enough. Carers are being short changed. They deserve a better deal.
The problem
Caring can have a devastating impact on carers’ finances. One in five carers is forced to give up work, losing on average £11,000 in income.
Carers are being short changed by an outdated benefits system that doesn’t recognise their contribution to society. The
UK's 6 million carers save the
country an estimated £87 billion per year. In return, the main carer's benefit
is the lowest of its kind, paid at only £53.10 a week for a minimum of 35 hours
caring, equivalent to £1.52 per hour - far short of the national minimum wage of
£5.73 per hour.
Unfair rules act as a disincentive for carers who are able to work, while some, including those over 65 or studying, miss out on carers’ benefits altogether.
What we want
Carers UK has been calling on the Government for urgent action to improve carers' benefits and income. The carers' benefits system must:
- Protect carers from falling into poverty or financial hardship
- Reflect carers' different circumstances
- Help carers to combine caring with paid work and study
- Be easy to understand and
straightforward to claim
-
Carers Poverty Charter
Carers and other major organsiations are calling for urgent action to put an end to carer poverty. Carers can't wait years for pledges and promises. They need help now. -
Hard evidence
Find out the facts about carers' finances. -
Don Jones a carer.
Don is a carer for his sister. Find out how caring affected Don's income. -
What carers said to Gordon Brown
Carers UK asked carers to send a message to Gordon Brown. Find out what some of them had to say. -
Campaign highlights
What have we achieved so far?
Page Last Modified: 22/05/2009
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