Commentary: 'Thanks-no-giving for Carers Rights Day, 23rd November'
Carers UK responds to the Chancellors Autumn Statement.
Carers UK responds to the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement (Press release)
22 November 2023, Helen Walker, chief executive at Carers UK, said:
“With its focus on tax cuts, it’s bitterly disappointing that the Government has - yet again - failed to acknowledge the devastating impact the lack of funding for health and social care services is having on millions of unpaid carers supporting older and disabled family members.
“Unpaid carers have been bearing the immense physical, mental and financial strain of providing increasing hours of unpaid care with limited support for far too long. Many cannot take breaks and every day, 600 people give up paid work to provide that care, which has disastrous consequences for their finances and the wider economy.
“While the Government has increased benefits in line with the higher rate of inflation and retained the triple lock, carers desperately needed to see a higher rate of Carer’s Allowance and earnings limit. 75% of unpaid carers receiving the allowance are struggling with cost-of-living pressures.
“Today’s Autumn Statement was one of the Government’s last opportunities to deliver for hard-pressed carers in urgent need of support. It must do the right thing for carers and the economy by prioritising long-term, sustainable investment in social care.”
Carer Mentor Post November 19th, 2023.
UK Carers Rights Day is on USA Thanksgiving Day. How apt!
Giving thanks to Carers by overhauling the Carers Allowance, and increasing social care funding would be a wonderful action that the Chancellor could do on November 22nd 2023, during the Autumn Statement.
As I evolve the content of the Carer Mentor website I wanted to do justice to all the campaigning done by Carers UK to highlight the inequalities that Carers face.
In reviewing the press releases on their website, there has been an increasing burn in my stomach, partly acid churn from reading about what so many Carers go through but also the feeling of a fire being stoked, deep inside to be a beacon of warning and increase the awareness of these issues.
When you know that….
a) Carers Allowance is less than the minimum wage
b) it carries with it restrictions to prevent earning more than £139/week
c) despite increases in NHS Funding over the last 10 years, increases to social care funding have not kept pace ie the care system is now relying ever more heavily on unpaid carers to prop it up.
d) now unpaid carers in England and Wales contribute a staggering £162 billion/year - which is almost a third (29%) higher than the value of unpaid care in 2011.
…you start to realise that unpaid Carers are saving the government billions in the healthcare budget. What budgetary motivation is there for the government to overhaul Carers Allowance? As Professor Bennett says, ‘Without unpaid Carers the healthcare system would collapse’.
Care, be Aware, Prepare and Engage. (CAPE)
Carers don’t have the luxury of time or money to waste
During a week that could be even more painful than usual for unpaid Carers, let’s offer each other empathetic support Remind Carers that they are NOT Alone
Let’s see what will be in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement 2023 on November 22nd, and try to stand firm for Carers Rights the next day.
If you can, ask a Carer what you could do to help: offer some time, and hands-on support Acknowledge and appreciate what they’re doing.
For Carers, we see you connect online or with a friend. You’re not alone.
Online Meetups: Care for a cuppa
Below is the full Carers UK Press Release 03 May 2023
Unpaid care in England and Wales valued at £445 million per day
The economic value of family members providing care increases by 29% in a decade
Fewer unpaid carers overall providing more hours of care
New findings from Carers UK and the University of Sheffield show that unpaid carers in England and Wales contribute a staggering £445 million to the economy in England and Wales every day – that’s £162 billion per year.
The value of unpaid care is equivalent to a second NHS in England and Wales, which in 2020/21 received an estimated £164 billion in funding.
Unpaid carers are those looking after relatives or friends who have a disability, illness, mental health condition or who need extra help as they grow older.
Despite increases to NHS funding over the last 10 years, increases to social care funding have not kept pace and the care system is now relying ever more heavily on unpaid carers to prop it up.
Providing increasing hours of unpaid care, family members have no choice but to give up work or reduce their hours to do so, also putting their physical and mental health needs to one side.
The economic value of unpaid care in England and Wales in 2021 – now estimated to be £162 billion - is almost a third (29%) higher than the value of unpaid care in 2011.
The statistical analysis reveals that unpaid carers are, as individuals, providing more hours of care than they were 10 years ago. While the latest 2021 census data shows there are fewer carers in England and Wales than in 2011, the number of hours of care they provide has shot up - leading to their higher economic contribution.
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:
“It is deeply concerning that the increase in the value of unpaid care over the last decade is a result of fewer carers providing more hours of care. The ever-declining availability of social care means there is shrinking support for families to pull on – and they are left without a choice but to put other areas of their life on hold and provide more care.
“Having to care round the clock for a loved one has significant implications for people’s ability to stay in paid work, remain financially resilient and maintain their health. Lacking adequate support, unpaid carers feel they are being taken for granted.
“The Government must show that it values and supports unpaid carers by investing in and delivering quality care services for families in the longer-term. Carers need a funded National Carers Strategy and recognition within the NHS. For hundreds of thousands of carers on low incomes, they are desperate to see their financial support urgently reviewed.”
Leading the research, Professor Matt Bennett, Deputy Director of the Centre for Care at the University of Sheffield said:
"The economic contribution made by unpaid carers has increased by 29% in the last decade and paints a stark picture of the savings they make to health care budgets. Without unpaid carers, our health and social care systems would collapse.
“In fact, our work shows that people are providing more hours of unpaid care than ever before. We hope policy makers see the urgent need to act to support unpaid carers.”
Read the Valuing Carers research report.
Totally agree with this. I too am not expecting much in the Autumn statement. I honestly do not know how anyone can work and care as in many cases, the demands are not predictable and it would be very hard to be a reliable employee. Yes Carers do need to be valued far far more . The sad thing is that most have no choice, as with a broken NHS, compassion takes over and we just do what needs to be done.