Carers Trust calls on Government to exempt local carer services from increased National Insurance contributions

Carers Trust operates a network of over 130 local carer services providing essential support to the nation’s carers. We reached over 1.1 million people last year across the UK through a mix of respite, advice, counselling, crisis support, local groups, etc.

We support young carers helping a family member with an addiction through to people in their 90s caring for a partner with dementia.

Take our services away and carers might not be able to continue, at a time when more and more is being asked of them as health and social care struggle to meet demand. 

There will be a cost of at least £3 million to these local carer services from measures laid out in the UK Government’s budget around employer National Insurance Contributions. This is on top of a further £4million through changes to the National Living Wage.

We are therefore calling on the UK Government to be proactive in removing the risks to the existence of local carer services.

The Government can do this by exempting these services from increased National Insurance contributions, just as it has signalled it will do with the NHS and public sector. Similarly, clarity is urgently needed from Westminster on what support will be passed on to make that possible in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Statutory funding makes up 70% of local carer services’ income, in return for services that help the state meet its statutory obligations. In addition, and just like vast swathes of the voluntary sector, local carer services offer plenty more on top for no additional return.

An amount that is a tiny proportion (0.01%) of overall spend on social care, let alone health, could be the difference between services continuing to exist or being lost.

Local carer services are already struggling to meet soaring demand for help from carers on ever diminishing resources. That pressure is being exacerbated by the state spend in the UK per carer registered to a local service dropping 13% in real terms since 2021/22.

We know too that cash-strapped councils are unlikely to make up the difference, with half of core contracts either frozen in value or reduced last year.

In an environment where there is precious little social care available, unpaid carers are picking up the slack, as well as helping the NHS to support those on waiting lists or hoping to be discharged from hospital.

Yes, carers say they need better Carer’s Allowance, as well as help into employment for carers who want to work. Primarily, however, they tell us they need practical support from services that are tailored to them and in their local community. Take those services away at society’s peril.