You could be caring for your husband and mother but you will only be getting £53 per week. Indeed there are 6 million unpaid carers who are saving the country some £87 billion, yes billion per year.
The nine charities have launched a “Carer Poverty Charter”, calling upon the government to “set out an urgent timetable of action to improve carers’ benefits and income”.
Carers UK Chief Executive Imelda Redmond said: “Government has promised a review of carers’ benefits and pledged that by 2018 carers won’t be forced into financial hardship by caring.
“Carers cannot wait. They are falling into poverty and financial hardship now, and need urgent action.”
A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “We want to create a system of carers’ benefits that is able to provide effective support where it is most needed and that can adapt to the extensive range of needs that carers have.”
Members of Carers UK recently demonstrated n London in support of the campaign.
