Today marks the 50th anniversary of Carer’s Allowance, a significant milestone that highlights both how far we have come and how much further change is needed.
To mark this moment, CSPA has signed the Carer Poverty Coalition’s open letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, calling on the Government to commission a comprehensive review of Carer’s Allowance and related carers’ benefits.
Carer’s Allowance no longer reflects the realities of modern caring, employment or financial insecurity. The benefit has not had a full review since the 1999 National Carers Strategy, meaning it has been 26 years since Government last took a holistic look at how carers are supported through the social security system.
Unpaid carers provide vital support to families, communities and public services across the UK, yet too many face poverty and financial hardship as a direct result of caring. The current system fails to fully recognise the value of unpaid care, the challenges of combining work and caring, and the financial penalties carers face when trying to remain in employment.
The Carer Poverty Coalition is clear that a comprehensive review must examine how caring intersects with employment, social security, poverty and long‑term financial security. A modernised system would reduce poverty among carers, support participation in paid work and contribute to wider Government goals such as economic growth and reduced reliance on social security.
After 50 years, Carer’s Allowance needs more than small adjustments. It needs a fundamental rethink, shaped by the’ lived experiences of carers and fit for today’s realities.
You can read the full Carer Poverty Coalition open letter here.