£840m of Carer’s Allowance goes unclaimed as hundreds of thousands of carers across the UK pay heavy price missing out on Carer’s Allowance for looking after ill or disabled loved ones at home.
Hundreds of thousands of carers across the UK are paying a heavy price as they miss out on Carer’s Allowance for looking after ill or disabled loved ones at home.
Estimates from the charity Carers UK suggest that nearly 300,000 carers are missing out on a total of £840 million worth of Carer’s Allowance each year[1]. This means that carers, who are often isolated, unsupported and unaware of the support they can get, end up cutting back on essentials like food and heating to make ends meet[2].
Imelda Redmond, CBE, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:
“Around 2.3 million people become carers every year, and we hear from families who are simply not told about the support that is there for them. Many also don’t see themselves as carers, but as mothers, sons, partners and friends looking after ill or disabled loved-ones. As a result, they miss out on support and end up caring round the clock with out a break, and struggling to pay even basic food and heating bills[3].
Redmondadded, “We rely heavily on the support provided by carers, which has been valued at a staggering £87 billion per year. It is crucial that all parts of our society work to identify carers and ensure they get the support they need.”
Carers UK is today (Friday 3 December) holding the tenth annual Carers’ Rights Day, which aims to inform carers everywhere of the financial and other support to which they are legally entitled.
Over 700 community events are also taking place across the UK on Carers Rights Day to provide advice and info to carers wherever they are; including GPs surgeries, supermarkets, libraries, disability groups, job centres and schools as well as employers. Carers UK is also calling on members of the public to tell someone they know who is caring, to find out their entitlements.
Carers who want information about their entitlements can order a free guide by:
· Visiting www.carersuk.org
· Emailing adviceline@carersuk.org
· Writing to Carers UK, 20 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4LX
· Ringing 0808 808 7777
ENDS
[1]Carers UK’s estimates indicate that 299,529 carers may be missing out on a total of £842,320,741 of Carer’s Allowance. The estimates are based on new research from the Department of Work and Pensions,The take-up of Carer’s Allowance: A feasibility study (2010) Berthoud, R., which shows that nearly one in three carers could be missing out.
[2]Carers in Crisis (2008) Carers UK
[3]In a Carers UK survey, half of the carers providing substantial care said they took longer than two years to realise that they were a carer. In the Know (2006) Carers UK
Contact
Carers UK can provide case studies of carers and spokespeople are available for interview:
Steve McIntosh, Policy and Public Affairs Officer
Tel: 0207 378 4937, Mob: 07875724088, Email: steve.mcintosh@carersuk.org
Emily Holzhausen, Director of Policy and Public Affairs
Tel: 0207 378 4935, Mob: 07941273108, Email: emily.holzhausen@carersuk.org
Notes to Editors
About Carers UK
Carers UK is a campaigning, policy and information organisationof and for carers. Carers UK makes a difference to carers' lives by:
o Campaigning for a better deal for carers;
o Informing carers of their rights and what help is available
o Training and advising professionals who work with carers
o Working across the UK through its membership and networks of branches and affiliates.
Carers Missing Millions
The full research report, with regional breakdowns of carers missing out and the amount of Carer’s Allowance missed out on will be available from 3rd December 2010 at www.carersuk.org/Professionals/ResearchLibrary or email steve.mcintosh@carersuk.org for an advance copy
http://www.carersuk.org/Newsandcampaigns/News/CarersMissingMillions
PDF version
Carers are missing out on over £840m in benefits each year, Carers UK revealed today.
On the annual Carers Rights Day, the charity said that about 300,000 people entitled to carer's allowance were missing out on the benefit.
"We hear from families who are simply not told about the support that is there for them," said Carers UK chief executive Imelda Redmond.
"Many also don't see themselves as carers, but as mothers, sons, partners and friends looking after ill or disabled loved-ones. As a result, they miss out on support and end up caring round the clock without a break, and struggling to pay even basic food and heating bills," she said.
Today's figures were calculated using statistics from a Department for Work and Pensions report on take-up of carer's allowance, published earlier this year, which found that one in three carers do not claim.
A regional analysis by Carers UK showed the north west of England had the highest amount of unclaimed carer's allowance at £114m while Northern Ireland had the smallest surplus at £50m.
Carers Rights Day, an annual campaign to draw attention to the needs and entitlements of carers, celebrates its tenth anniversary today.
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