Debts & Loans

A fifth of Northern Ireland’s carers are in over £10,000 of debt — with half cutting back on essentials like food or heating to make ends meet, research out today has found.

A survey of carers across the UK has found that they have been hit hard by the ongoing economic crisis and has revealed that the financial position of nine out of 10 of them is worse than one year ago.

The alarming statistics from the poll of 1,700 carers, released today — Carers’ Rights day — by leading campaigning organisation Carers UK, have provided a unique insight into the extreme hardship being experienced by those who provide vital unpaid support for their elderly, sick or disabled relatives — making a contribution worth £87bn a year to the UK economy.

Half of all carers are cutting back on food just to make ends meet — more than double the rate only a year ago, while just under a third of those paying a rent or mortgage say they cannot afford to pay it.

Three quarters are struggling to pay utility bills — up from 33% last year and just under 80% cannot afford essential repairs to the home — a situation less than one third found themselves in last year.

Carers in Northern Ireland reported the highest levels of fuel poverty, with 75% in fuel poverty, paying more than 10% of their income on fuel bills, compared to a UK average of 65%.

Perhaps most worrying is that half of carers questioned are now in debt as a result of caring, compared to a third last year.

In struggling to make ends meet, many carers were resorting to borrowing. Nearly one third of those owing money — 20% in Northern Ireland — already had over £10,000 worth of debt.

Carers can face higher bills than the rest of the population, including extra heating and transport costs, and two thirds are spending their own income or savings to pay for care for the person they look after.

Most of the respondents care for more than 50 hours per week, with some of the 1.3 million carers across the UK providing full-time care. Few of these carers are able to work, meaning they are reliant on benefits that have not kept pace with the spiralling costs of food and fuel.

Helen Ferguson, director of Carers Northern Ireland, said: “Rising costs and the economic downturn are turning what is already a bad situation for carers into a financial crisis. Many struggle day in, day out to provide care for someone they love who is disabled or ill, and have found they have no choice but to give up work in order to care.

“Whilst the physical and mental demands of caring often make carers’ own health worse, the appallingly low level of Carer’s Allowance, worth only £50.55 per week, is only making life even harder.

“We must support them more and not force them into financial hardship as a result of their caring role. Government recently pledged that, by 2018, carers will not suffer financial hardship as a result of caring.

“Our survey shows that they are suffering right now and we need immediate action to stop carers from sliding into even further into poverty.”

Ms Ferguson also urged carers across Northern Ireland to contact the organisation to receive advice on financial support.