Friday, June 17, 2011

Carers Week

This week is Carers Week in the UK, a chance to publicise and celebrate the vital role of carers in our society.

Twice I've started to write a bog post on this and twice I've deleted it as it sounded too whiny and self-indulgent. So instead I'll just give you a few vital statistics and leave you to draw your own conclusions:

Carers save the UK £119bn a year (Carers UK).

Carers Allowance (for carers who care for a person of a qualifying medium or high level of disability for a minimum of 35 hours a week) is currently £55.55. The carer can earn no more than £100 a week on top of this, otherwise the allowance is lost (Directgov).

The current UK minimum wage for an employee over 21 is £5.93, that is £207.55 for a 35 hour week (HMRC).

Aound 50% of carers have health problems as a result of their caring duties (NHS).

More than 80% of carers are worried about cuts to services (Princess Royal Trust for Carers).

If you are interested in finding about more about carers, including young carers, there is further information on the Carers UK and Princess Royal Trust for Carers websites as well as from the NHS.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thank you for this, information, Cathy. I've added this post to my Blog Promotions page - it's so important that people are made aware of the work carers do.

CJ xx

Cathy said...

Thank you CJ, I'm honoured. xx

BucksWriter said...

Important, and shameful information. If Mr Cameron is sincere about the Big Society then perhaps he should start here!

Cathy said...

BucksWriter, I didn't even mention that Carers Allowance is taxable should a carer have enough unearned income to nudge into paying tax! Given his family history Mr Cameron should be aware of carers' issues but I think he chooses to ignore them (as did previous governments). If I'd had more time I'd have tried to dig out reliable stats on how many carers live in poverty and how many families have to survive on one income, there must be research out there!

Casdok said...

And if you are on income support you can only earn £20!

I thought Mr C would be more understanding. But then as he was career minded and had a good income maybe he didnt/dosnt have a clue!

Cathy said...

Casdok, I didn't mention the IS implications because I don't have experience of that, though friends do. I didn't want to get any facts wrong and the benefits system is such a maze. I agree about Cameron, I once had hopes that he would understand but he just wants something for nothing and of course he'd never have had to claim benefits. As for the Tory MP Philip Davies' remarks today about the disabled being paid below minimum wage, I'm horrified...

Maria said...

Cathy if you had the share buttons on the post, I'd have tweeted and put it on my FB page. This is a great post.

Cathy said...

I did actually share this post on FB and Twitter. But having had an upsetting experience once in the past when I shared a post on FB and bearing in mind this is mostly a very personal blog, I tend to keep the two separate most of the time now.

But anyway, feel free to share the post if you're able to do so without buttons, gaelikaa! x

Writer Pat Newcombe said...

Lovely clear well written blog, Cathy. Three cheers for carers, eh?

Cathy said...

Thank you :)