A survey published today shows nearly half of Scotland’s unpaid carers are having to cut back on essentials such as food and heating, and more than a third have taken on debt to make ends meet. The charity behind the survey says unpaid carers in Scotland are experiencing a deepening crisis, with the financial and personal cost for many “too high”.

The new State of Caring: The Cost of Caring in Scotland 2025, launched by Carers Scotland to coincide with Carers Rights Day shows a deteriorating picture for Scotland’s 627,000 unpaid carers, with carers paying significant cost in their own financial security, health, employment and opportunities.

Four in 10 Scottish respondents reported struggling to afford support, with 32% saying the cost of care has increased for them in the last year.

Many (40%) said they have had to reduce their working hours or stop working to allow them to meet their caring needs.

Director of Carers Scotland, Kirsten Hogg says the human cost to carers is profound – and getting bigger:

"This report reveals a crisis that is devastating and growing.

“In just one year, we have seen a staggering 71% increase in carers forced to cut back on essentials like food and heating.

“These are not statistics – they are our family members, friends and neighbours who are skipping meals, falling into debt, and sacrificing their own health, career and future security to care for loved ones.

“At the same time, Carers Scotland heard from carers who are crying out for help to live their lives – to be able to have a career or be in education, to have breaks and time for themselves, even to have enough time and money for social and leisure activities, friendships and hobbies. The things that each of us take for granted. But the system of support they need is fractured and carers are paying the price – a price that is too high.”

One carer told the survey:

“I cannot work properly. My pension contributions are shot to pieces. I am not able to financially plan for the future and I went bankrupt because of my caring role.”

Another simply stated: “My mental health is shattered. I feel on the verge of a breakdown all the time."

Earlier this month, Scotland’s National Carer Organisations, which brings together Carers Scotland with five other carers’ organisations, published a manifesto asking people standing for election to Holyrood next year to commit to concrete actions to improve access to support for, and the health, wellbeing and financial security of, Scotland’s unpaid carers.

“Every day 1,000 people become carers,” says Kirsten Hogg, “and tomorrow it could be any one of us.

“As we come towards the election, the next Scottish government and all parties in the Scottish parliament must recognise that we cannot – and must not – continue to rely on a system that pushes carers into poverty and ill health, and take bold action to change this.

“The current Scottish government also still has time to do more in its final months by increasing investment in carers in the upcoming budget, particularly in actions to reduce poverty and increase access to breaks from caring.”

Carers Scotland says approaching three in 10 (around 28%) unpaid carers are living in poverty in Scotland, with carers 56% more likely to be in poverty than the general population and 60% more likely to be in deep poverty.

The organisation estimates that the over 627,000 unpaid carers in Scotland provide a service for free that would otherwise cost over £15.9b per year for the state to provide.

The State of Caring: The Cost of Caring in Scotland 2025 report shows that parent carers of children are particularly hard hit. Over a quarter (27%) of parents caring for are struggling to make ends meet, 62% are cutting back on essentials and 56% have taken a loan or credit cards to make ends meet; building unsustainable debt for their future.

The annual survey by Carers Scotland and Carers UK was carried out online during the summer with 1,781 of the 10,500 responses from unpaid carers across the UK coming from people in Scotland.

 

Read more: Politicians told: “Carers cannot wait”; Insight: Scotland’s ‘invisible’ patients and carers; Growing health concerns for Scotland’s unpaid carers;

Sign up to our bulletin for key health & social care updates straight to your inbox.