A disproportionately high number of unpaid carers are reported to be living in poverty, reports Kumail Jaffer, Local Democracy Reporter

Hina Bokhari, chair of the London Assembly's economy, skills and culture committee — Hina Bokhari, chair of the London Assembly’s economy, skills and culture committee

London’s “hidden” unpaid carers are struggling due to being unaware of the financial support and services available to them, experts have suggested.

Around 7.8% of Londoners provided unpaid care to those around them due to health conditions or old age at the time of the 2021 census. However, 29% of these carers in the capital were in poverty in 2021/22, according to Carers UK – a higher proportion than 21% of Londoners as a whole.

Some of this is down to unpaid carers not being made aware of benefits they are entitled to – such as carer’s allowance (CA) of up to £83.30 a week – or realising they are considered carers at all.

Last Monday (12th) the London Assembly’s economy, culture and skills committee heard from care providers in the capital about the extent of these challenges.

“Very often what we see is the number of carers who do not realise they’re a carer, who think’ ‘I’m looking after my partner, I’m looking after my child’,” said David Walker, the CEO of Bromley Third Sector Enterprise, who work alongside charities in the area.

“Actually saying [to them] you are a carer and you’re entitled to support, and actually making sure that those who are professionals in the system were made more carer aware [is vital], because that makes a difference.

“It’s reception staff, social prescribers, actually identifying and seeing people and going, ‘you’re a carer and you’re entitled to support’. But very often, those people don’t realise that they get that support.”

Unpaid carers are entitled to CA and respite care through their local authority, though experts have suggested neither is sufficient.

According to Carers UK, 62% of people in receipt of CA live in poverty, while respite care, where an unpaid carer can take a break while a substitute comes in for a period of time, has become less generous as local authorities continue to slash budgets.

Mike Rich, CEO at Barnet Carers, told the committee about the need for better communication to carers about the full extent of what they are entitled to, adding: “Carers have a significant amount of financial restraint on them.

“We have a lot of people claiming carer’s allowance, we have a lot of people claiming attendance allowance, we have people who are approaching us around things like council tax discounts, around things like applying for a blue badge, a whole range of entitlements and benefits. And to be honest, I don’t think there is enough clarity.”

However, even when carers are aware of their rights, local authorities may provide wrong information around it.

Committee chair Hina Bokhari raised a report by MoneySavingExpert.com this week which found that at least 69 councils in England and Wales display incorrect criteria around those who are able to potentially get a reduction on their council tax bill.

“There’s a wider point about that information, advice and guidance,” Walker said in response.

“We recently did a survey on the numbers of our clients who were [applying] for things like attendance allowance and for other benefits – and 98% of them said they needed our help to fill in those forms because they’re inaccessible.”

However, the care chiefs suggested a “positive” awareness campaign spearheaded by City Hall would make a “real difference” to many lives. Rich said: “That whole issue of carer identification, something that can be very positive, can get people to think about themselves as carers, that would make a significant difference.”

Carla Brain, of Enfield Carers Centre, said a London-wide carers campaign would be “incredible” and ensure unpaid carers realise when they “cross over” the line from family member into the role.

She also suggested extending current free transport provisions for young carers – who currently get free bus travel – to the tube, so they can accompany people to hospital appointments in central London without worrying about the costs involved.

A spokesperson for Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “Unpaid carers make an enormous contribution to life in London and it is unacceptable that anyone doing this incredible work faces additional financial hardship.

“The social care system is under huge strain after more than a decade of underfunding, and the Mayor has welcomed the steps government have already taken to provide additional support to unpaid carers.

“Sadiq is committed to doing all he can to support Londoners, including creating the Cost of Living Hub which provides dedicated information about financial rights and entitlements and links to support, as well as ongoing work to ensure that Londoners claim the financial support they are entitled to, as he builds a fairer London for everyone.”

No news is bad news

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

The audiences they serve know less, understand less, and can do less.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

Choose the news. Don’t lose the news.

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.