UK carers 'forced to use food banks’ in lockdown

Unpaid carers are twice as likely as the general public to have relied on a food bank during the coronavirus pandemic.

That is according to new research from Carers UK, which found that 106,000 adults in the UK currently caring for someone outside of their household who is older, disabled or seriously ill, have used a foodbank.

Among this group of unpaid carers, almost 229,000 have had someone in their household go hungry during lockdown. The research suggests that younger carers were more likely to live in a household with someone who experienced hunger; this affected 55,153 (12.2 per cent) of those aged 17-30, compared with 9,294 (0.7 per cent) carers aged 66 or older.

The research, carried out by the Universities of Sheffield and Birmingham for Carers UK, adds to an already worrying picture of unpaid carers facing intolerable pressures during the coronavirus pandemic. Research carried out by the charity in April showed that 70 per cent of people caring for more than 50 hours a week are providing even more care during the pandemic, and 55 per cent felt overwhelmed managing their caring responsibilities and are worried about the weeks ahead.

Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “This pandemic is pushing unpaid carers to breaking point physically and mentally. The fact that carers are also twice as likely as the average person to be relying on foodbanks demonstrates just how difficult life is for them right now. It is simply unacceptable that carers are having to go hungry because they do not have support.

“Surely, when the majority of carers are providing even more care for relatives during this pandemic, and spending more to do so, they deserve some help? The government must acknowledge the impact the pandemic is having on carers’ finances and job prospects and raise Carer’s Allowance as a matter of urgency.”

Carer’s Allowance is the benefit for people caring for 35 hours or more each week and is currently just £67.25 a week.