UK's unpaid carers report finds 1 million provide full-time care and need more support

A Resolution Foundation report says about 1 million people in the UK provide at least 35 hours of unpaid care a week, and that one in three carers from poorer families are unable to work because of their duties.

A Resolution Foundation report says around 1 million people in the UK provide at least 35 hours of unpaid care each week. The research links this to an ageing population and higher rates of ill-health and disability concentrated in lower-income working-age families. The report notes that one in three unpaid carers from poorer families are unable to work because of their caring responsibilities. The findings have prompted discussion about further support for carers. Key findings and responses: - The report states about 1 million people provide 35 or more hours of unpaid care per week, the equivalent of full-time work. - It reports that one in three unpaid carers from poorer families were unable to work because of their caring duties. - A government spokesperson said the earnings threshold for carer's allowance has been increased and that the implementation of carer's leave is under review, with paid carer's leave under consideration. - A 2024 investigation into carer's allowance administration revealed problems that prompted an independent review and subsequent changes to eligibility rules. Summary: The report highlights a large group of unpaid carers, concentrated in lower-income households, who face barriers to paid work and sustained strain. Government comments point to changes already made on carer's allowance and to active reviews of carer's leave and related protections. Timelines and detailed outcomes for those reviews were not provided.