Carers Scotland has today published a report which it says ‘paints a bleak picture’ for the 800,000 unpaid carers across Scotland, laying bare the financial impact they face as the charity calls for urgent action to protect carers.

The national charity reveals that 44% of carers on Carer’s Allowance are cutting back on both food and heating.

Carers Scotland says a concerning trend has emerged, with people cutting back on both food and heat today rising from 40% last year and double the figures recorded in 2021.

The report also states that over a quarter of all carers and 41% of those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, the main benefit for unpaid carers, surveyed are struggling to make ends meet.

People receiving Carer’s Allowance have been hit particularly hard by the rising cost-of-living, says Carers Scotland – with one in six carers on Carer’s Allowance visiting foodbanks in 2023.

Having surveyed over 1,770 unpaid carers in Scotland, Carers Scotland says that government and local authorities must “act now” to respond to its findings.

This report comes just a month after a global audience heard that Scotland’s carers are at a health and poverty tipping point.

Carers Scotland now explains that carers’ ability to increase their income is affected by caring responsibilities is leaving many reporting fears that they will lose their homes.

With four in ten sharing that they were struggling with basic costs and had to cut their expenses to the bone, many revealed they were falling into debt and arrears as a result.

The level of rent or mortgage arrears for all carers has also ‘rocketed’, with 16% of those responding to this year’s survey specifically struggling to meet these costs.

Director of Carers Scotland Richard Meade says many see no end to the current financial storm:

“This year’s State of Caring lays bare the devastating financial impact of caring in a cost-of-living crisis on Scotland’s 800,000 unpaid carers. 

“Carers have told us about the significant poverty they experience, with rising costs, limited incomes, and the impossible choices they face just to make ends meet.

“Substantial numbers of unpaid carers are floundering and can see no end to the current financial storm. Governments and public authorities must act now, not just to prevent further crisis, but to give unpaid carers any hope of a brighter future.”

In its report, Carers Scotland makes a series of recommendations to better support carers, including a call for hardship funding to be made available this winter to protect carers.

Additionally, Carers Scotland says the Scottish government should commit to uprating all devolved benefits with inflation and end care charges ‘immediately’.

The charity is also urging the Scottish government to move forward ‘at pace’ with the introduction of the Carer Support Payment set to replace Carer’s Allowance in Scotland.

Carers Support Payment will, for the first time, enable carers who are in full time education to receive such a social security entitlement.

While it welcomes this development, Carers Scotland says a clear timeline must be laid out as to when more significant changes will be introduced.

Moreover, the charity says the government should undertake further public awareness work to ensure carers are supported to access their social security entitlements and maximise their income.

Reflecting on its 2023 findings, the charity states:

‘Action is urgently needed by both Scottish and UK governments as well as from local councils, health and social care partnerships and the NHS to support carers. We need a long-term plan that seeks to both reduce and prevent carer poverty.

‘With nearly 1,000 people starting or ending caring every day and two thirds of us becoming carers at some point in our life – it is not just about today’s carers but about every one of us when (not if) we talk on a caring role.’

Read more: Over a million unpaid carers going unsupported; Students to be eligible for new Scottish carer benefit; Unpaid carers “spiralling” in cost-of-living crisis; Analysis: Why people are left behind; Can Scotland make health fairer?; Unpaid carer: Funding is vital to delivering the NCS

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