Nearly one million carers denied help with loved ones | Politics | News
Labor is being called on to organize a “Christmas holiday” for people caring for loved ones, as it emerged that nearly a million claims for carer support have been rejected. An analysis found that 932,625 people have been left without help with their caring responsibilities since 2020.
The number of people receiving respite care, where paid carers look after someone temporarily so families can take a break, has fallen by 23% since 2019-20 to just 35,590. The government is facing calls for a “transitory care guarantee written into law”.
More than 1.5 million people provide care for more than 50 hours a week, but only 32% say they can take a break when necessary.
Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “Thousands of unpaid carers will not be given up on their responsibilities this Christmas, as they will continue to care as many do, 24/7, 365 days a year. “Fewer breaks are being taken, leaving many unpaid carers exhausted and exhausted, unable to have a life beyond their caring responsibilities.
“The country and the NHS rely on the care they provide and rest is essential to keep them well.”
Carers are expected to provide £2.9 billion worth of support over a seven-day period this Christmas, but there are serious concerns about the support they receive.
Ms Walker said last year only 23% said they had received a carer assessment of their needs in the last 12 months, and 42% said “their local authority had not given them any support after carrying out this assessment”.
Kirsty McHugh, chief executive of the Carers Trust, said: “Carers don’t have a quiet night and the way to change this is to take a break. While much of the country slows down for Christmas, millions of people will continue to care without a break, helping people stay well and stay at home and out of hospital.
“With temporary support under threat, 2026 should be the year the UK Government steps in and gives every carer the time they need to stay well.”
Alison Bennett, the Liberal Democrats’ care spokesperson, said: “Many carers will feel exhausted this Christmas and unable to spend time in peace and quiet with their loved ones. “Families are being pushed to breaking point, working day and night with no rest.
“Carers need and deserve a break, including the holiday period. If the Government has the heart, it will ensure that every carer in this country has time off by next Christmas, with the guarantee of respite care written into law.”
Ms Bennett added: “This is not only the right thing to do: better supporting carers will also help our overwhelmed NHS – as carer breakdown means more people having to turn to hospital as a last resort. A proper carer support service and regular respite care in every hospital will make a big difference this winter.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: “We value the enormous contribution of all unpaid carers. That’s why we’ve introduced the biggest increase in the Carer’s Allowance threshold since the 1970s – an increase of around £2,000 – and are reviewing Carer’s Leave. Unpaid carers can also receive support, including short breaks and respite services, through the Better Care Fund (BCF).
“We inherited a social care system that was facing significant challenges, but we are turning this around with a funding increase of more than £4.6 billion from 2025-26, an additional £172 million for an additional 15,000 home adaptations for disabled people, and the first Fair Pay Deal to increase recruitment and retention.
“The Government is committed to creating a National Care Service and Baroness Casey’s Independent Commission forms part of the critical first steps towards delivering this, with the first reform recommendations to be published next year.”
