Hidden Cost of Caring

Hidden Costs

Why Our Family Carers Deserve Better

Imagine waking up every day knowing that your entire world revolves around caring for a loved one with disabilities. You’re doing everything you can to keep them safe, comfortable, and loved — often at great personal cost. 

Now, consider this: nearly half of parent carers in the UK say their income doesn’t even cover basic needs like food and housing. That’s almost 44%. And if your fridge breaks or your bed falls apart? Over 80% of carers say they couldn’t replace essentials without going into debt or going without.

It’s heartbreaking, isn’t it? And yet, these are the everyday realities for millions of families. Many are skipping meals just to make sure their children eat, with over half of parent carers doing so. 

Meanwhile, a staggering 93% of families want to work paid jobs, but caring responsibilities make that practically impossible. The emotional toll is equally heavy, with 28% of parent carers likely to be clinically depressed — a silent crisis that often goes unnoticed.

As Danielle, a parent carer, puts it simply to The Family Fund: “We go without, so Finn doesn’t have to.” It’s a powerful reminder of the sacrifices family carers make every single day.

But here’s the thing — recent changes proposed in the Pathways to Work Green Paper threaten to make life even harder for carers. Currently, many carers receive a tiny £83.30 weekly in Carer’s Allowance, a meager sum given the enormous responsibilities they shoulder. However, under the new proposals, tens of thousands of carers could lose this payment altogether when their charges lose the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award. If that happens, they’ll be forced to leave their caring roles behind to find paid employment — but who will look after the disabled person then?

Caring is often described as a full-time job — just without the pay. It’s a delicate balancing act, and these proposed cuts threaten to tip the scales further into hardship. No family should have to choose between heating, eating, and caring for their loved ones. But right now, many are doing just that, making everyday sacrifices and facing mounting costs.

The Family Fund’s recent report highlights this crisis, revealing the true cost of caring in 2025. It paints a stark picture: families are struggling to keep their heads above water, often at the expense of their own wellbeing.

So, what’s the solution? It’s simple: we need to recognise and support family carers — not push them further into poverty. They are the backbone of our care system, quietly keeping society running. If we don’t act now, the risk is that more families will be torn apart by impossible choices, with vulnerable disabled individuals left behind.

As a society, we must ask ourselves: who looks after the disabled person when their primary carer can no longer do so? The answer shouldn’t be a question of cost or policy — it should be about compassion and fairness. Because caring isn’t just a full-time job; it’s a vital part of who we are as a community. 

Thats why The Green Party pledged:

Restore the value of disability benefits with an immediate uplift of 5%.

End the unfair targeting of carers and disabled people on benefits.

Increase carer’s allowance by at least 10% a month.

Oppose plans to replace Personal Independence Payment (PIP) cash payments with ‘vouchers’, and in the long term reform intrusive eligibility tests.

Increase Universal Credit and legacy benefits by £40 a week.

End the unfair five-week wait for benefits which is pushing people into debt.

Let’s ensure that those who give so much aren’t pushed to the brink — because everyone deserves support, dignity, and a fair chance at life.