On 23 March 2022, the Chancellor, Rt. Hon. Rishi Sunak MP delivered his Spring Statement to Parliament. You can see the Statement in full here.

Responding, Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:

“Many carers will be extremely worried about what they heard from the Chancellor in his Spring Statement today and unsure how they will meet the spiralling costs of energy and essentials they are facing in the coming weeks ahead, leaving them with very difficult decisions to make.

The 5p cut in fuel duty and the £500 million household support fund announced today will make a difference to some carers, but these are simply not enough to protect unpaid carers on low and moderate incomes from the devastating cost of living crisis the UK is currently experiencing.

Many carers are already dipping into savings, using credit cards, and cutting back on essentials to keep the person they care for warm and to protect their health. Carers have told us they are fearful of the effect increased energy bills in April are going to have on them and their families and that they will have to make difficult choices about eating or heating their homes.

Carers on Carer’s Allowance and Carer Element of Universal Credit are already in extremely challenging financial circumstances and it is bitterly disappointing that in April they will receive a real terms cut in the level of social security they are receiving.

While carers in receipt of Carer’s Allowance in Wales today heard they will be receiving a £500 one off payment, there was no such thing for unpaid carers in England or Northern Ireland.

Without additional support to manage the cost of living crisis, many unpaid carers will be pushed further into poverty that will have a lasting impact on their finances and quality of life, despite the £380 billion that carers have saved the UK economy since COVID struck in March 2020.”