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Carers UK demands more support for carers, including work-related support, as its report shows two million unpaid carers are living in poverty.
Two million unpaid carers are living in poverty, and 400,000 live in deep poverty in the UK, according to a new report, with difficulties staying in work one of the key reasons.
The report by WPI Economics says nearly one in 10 unpaid carers live in deep poverty and that the poverty rate for unpaid carers was 50% higher than for those who did not provide care (27% vs 18%).
An inability to participate in paid work, caring for long hours, and receiving income-related benefits are the strongest predictors of poverty amongst unpaid carers.
The report also states that the poverty rate is more than double for those providing more than 35 hours of care per week (43%), compared to people who are not unpaid carers (18%). Carers aged 25-44 have the highest rate of poverty of any other age group, at 38-39%. It adds that two-thirds (67%) of unpaid carers who receive Universal Credit live in poverty – around 900,000 carers.
Carers UK is calling for changes in the support offered to unpaid carers. It says an immediate uplift to Universal Credit Carer Element and Carer Addition Pension Credit of £11.10 would lift 30,000 people out of poverty and 40,000 people out of deep poverty, an increase of £36.30 for carers receiving Universal Credit, an increase of £36.30 to Carer Addition to Pension Credit and an increase in the earnings limit for Carer’s Allowance to the equivalent of 21 hours at National Living Wage.