Energy price cap increase a ‘hammer blow’ for millions of unpaid carers
Carers Trust, the UK charity supporting unpaid carers and local carer organisations, has today responded to the announcement from Ofgem of the increase in the energy price gap.
Carers Trust’s CEO, Kirsty McHugh, said:
“Today’s announcement is a hammer blow for unpaid family carers. Our health and social care system relies on over seven million people caring for sick and disabled family members in their homes, around half of whom have had to give up work and income, plunging whole families into poverty.
“With all parties considering their response to this crisis, we urgently call for targeted support for unpaid carers, including an immediate reversal of the decision in May to exclude Carer’s Allowance from the list of benefits whose recipients qualify for additional support payments. Failure to act now is likely to lead to more unpaid carers unable to continue with their roles, piling pressure back onto the NHS and social care system.”
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Notes to Editor:
For further information, please contact:
Matt Whitticase on mwhitticase@carers.org and 07824 539481.
About Carers Trust
Carers Trust works to transform the lives of unpaid carers across the UK. We partner with our network of local carer organisations across the UK to provide funding and support, deliver innovative and evidence-based programmes and raise awareness & influence policy.
Our vision is that unpaid carers are heard and valued, with access to support, advice and resources to enable them to live fulfilled lives.