Carers Scotland published their report into the cost of living crisis for carers today:

  • Over a third (35%) of carers are spending 20% of their income or more on energy
  • One in five (19%) of carers in lowest income households[1] are spending 50% or more of their income on energy
  • A quarter of carers cutting back on food and heat to make ends meet
  • Cutting back on essentials is putting the health of carers and the older and disabled people they support at risk
  • Carers Scotland urges the Scottish and UK Governments to do more to prevent carers falling further into poverty and ill health

Family members caring for loved ones who are older, disabled or seriously ill are being plunged into poverty and debt, struggling to afford food and bills during the cost-of-living crisis, new research by Carers Scotland reveals.

Carers Scotland surveyed around 2,000 unpaid carers in Scotland and found that one in four (26%) carers are struggling to make ends meet, with nearly a quarter (24%) cutting back on essentials like food and heating. Nearly 1 in 6 carers (15%) said they were in debt because of caring.

There are some costs carers simply cannot cut back on, such as heating and medical equipment, without affecting the health and the safety of the person they care for.

“Very worried about gas and electricity. Adult child is ventilated overnight, we also charge an electric chair every night and hoisting requires to be permanently plugged in. How can we possibly cut back on any of these things? Also, very worried about electricity blackouts when the equipment required is lifesaving.”   [Carer, State of Caring 2022]

Cost of living worries are affecting the health of carers with nearly two thirds (64%) reporting a negative impact on their health. 

“It is a big worry as i have no idea how I am going to manage the food and energy increases that are occurring and getting worse so I cannot plan and it is affecting my mental health which is already fragile.”    [Carer, State of Caring 2022]

Carers Scotland is urging action by both UK and Scottish Governments to uprate benefits in line with inflation and provide top up payments to carers to help support them through this difficult winter. 

The charity has also made wide ranging recommendations to the Scottish Government including to introduce dedicated help with energy costs for households with a severely disabled person.  At a minimum this should include identifying those people with the highest costs related to their conditions eg. hospital and hospice at home services, home oxygen, electric hoists and beds etc. and develop a financial support scheme to cover these additional costs. 

The full recommendations and analysis can be read in “State of Caring in Scotland 2022 – A cost-of-living crisis for unpaid carers in Scotland”  by clicking here