Report: one-in-four unpaid Welsh carers in poverty under Labour
New Report Highlights Urgent Need to Address Poverty
A new report released by WPI Economics, in collaboration with Carers Wales and funded by the abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, has revealed the alarming extent of poverty among unpaid carers in Wales. The findings highlight that 26% of unpaid carers in Wales live in poverty, with 9% experiencing deep poverty—figures significantly higher than the non-carer population.
The report, Poverty and Financial Hardship of Unpaid Carers in Wales, provides a comprehensive analysis of the factors driving financial hardship among the 311,000 unpaid carers in Wales, who provide vital care to family members and friends. Despite their essential role, many of these carers struggle with low incomes, high housing costs, and inadequate social security support.
Key findings from the report include:
- High Poverty Rates: Unpaid carers in Wales are significantly more likely to live in poverty than the general population, with 26% living in poverty compared to 20% of non-carers.
- Impact of Caring on Employment: Many carers are forced to reduce their working hours or leave employment entirely due to their caring responsibilities, exacerbating their financial difficulties.
- High Housing Costs: Unaffordable housing remains a major concern for carers, contributing to the financial pressures they face and forcing them to live in unsuitable homes.
In response to these findings, the report outlines several urgent policy recommendations for the Welsh Government, including:
- Creation of an Action Plan: Development of an Action and Implementation Plan to address the gaps between the rhetoric of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and the reality faced by unpaid carers.
- Funding Certainty: Long-term funding commitments for the Carers Support Fund and the Short Breaks Fund beyond 2025.
- Enhanced Housing Support: Introduction of more robust housing support measures for unpaid carers, including the inclusion of carers as a priority group in homelessness prevention efforts.
The report also calls on the Welsh Government to advocate for reforms at the UK Government level, including a review of Carer’s Allowance and other social security benefits to ensure they provide adequate support for carers.
Rob Simkins, Head of Policy and Public Affairs of Carers Wales said: “The findings of this report clearly show the need for urgent action. Unpaid carers in Wales provide invaluable care, often at great cost to their own health and wellbeing, as well as their own finances. Research shows that in Wales alone, the care provided by Wales’s unpaid carers saves the state over £10 billion per year and has a huge impact on the wellbeing of the people they provide care for. It is essential that both the Welsh and UK Governments, as well as local authorities across Wales, take swift and decisive action to better support unpaid carers.”
Vivienne Jackson, Programme Manager at abrdn Financial Fairness Trust, said: “The care system would collapse without the vital people who provide unpaid care. It’s not right that those who provide essential services to some of the most vulnerable people in our society are living in poverty. Government and employers need to work together to help lift carers out of poverty.”
The report also emphasizes the critical need for increased support from NHS Wales and social services, including the development of a National Care Service for Wales within the next decade, to provide high-quality social care services that can alleviate the pressures on unpaid carers.
Chris Kemp-Philp, an unpaid carer for over 40 years, from Newport said: “This report helps to show how so many unpaid carers in Wales, many of whom have had no choice but to become unpaid carers, are having to make sacrifices and be pushed into poverty because of their caring role. When unpaid carers do so much for the people they provide care to, as well as helping relieve the strain on local health and social care services, it’s hard to believe that we’re left behind with such little support and expected to just continue caring.”
The full report is attached and will be available for download.
Based on the SMC (Social Metrics Commission) measure of poverty, a person is considered to be in deep poverty when the resources they have available are so scarce it places them more than 50% below the poverty line. This measure captures individuals who live in the very poorest households.
About Carers Wales
Carers Wales is part of Carers UK, a charity led by carers, for carers – our mission is to make life better for carers.
- We give expert advice, information, and support
- We connect carers so no-one has to care alone
- We campaign together for lasting change
- We innovate to find new ways to reach and support carers
For practical advice and information about caring, go to www.carersuk.org or email advice@carersuk.org or call our helpline on 0808 808 7777.
The Carers UK Forum is our online community of carers and is available to Carers UK members 24 hours a day, 365 days a year: www.carersuk.org/forum.
Website: https://www.carersuk.org/wales/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carerswales/
Twitter: @CarersWales
Carers UK is a charity registered in England and Wales (246329) and in Scotland (SC039307) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (864097
Responding to the findings of a report by WPI Economics and Carers Wales revealing that over a quarter of carers in Wales live in poverty, Dr Altaf Hussain MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Social Care said:
“This is shameful news and proves Labour has the wrong priorities.
“Under the Labour Welsh Government, carers are being driven into destitution. These are the unsung heroes of Wales that deserve far greater recognition.
“Labour’s Carers Support Fund is not fit for purpose, given Labour ministers plan to spend eight times as much on creating more politicians every single year.”
Responding to the findings of a report by WPI Economics and Carers Wales revealing that over a quarter of carers in Wales live in poverty, Dr Altaf Hussain MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Social Care said:
“This is shameful news and proves Labour has the wrong priorities.
“Under the Labour Welsh Government, carers are being driven into destitution. These are the unsung heroes of Wales that deserve far greater recognition.
“Labour’s Carers Support Fund is not fit for purpose, given Labour ministers plan to spend eight times as much on creating more politicians every single year.”
