Plight of carers highlighted

Many carers facing continual hardship

Half a million Scottish carers say they are worse off than their English counterparts, according to research.

The Carers National Association says half of Scotland's 500,000 carers have no savings, while more than a third struggle to pay their utility bills.

Its study, Caring on the Breadline, also reveals that a third of carers across the United Kingdom have no savings.

Some carers cutting back on food

That figure, it says, rises to half in Scotland and the same figures apply to carers who are or have faced debt.

The survey shows 23% of Scottish carers cut back on their food bills by buying out of date food or reducing the number of hot meals they eat.

And slightly more than 10% cannot afford to pay their rent or mortgage.

A third cannot pay for essential home repairs and 80% have had to give up going on holidays.

"Any financial hardship for carers in unacceptable." said John Wilkes, director of Carers National Association Scotland.

"Carers are cutting back on food and going without breaks. This is taking advantage of the sense of duty, love and goodwill of half a million Scots who already save the state billions of pounds a year."

Allowance is 'derisory'

The survey of 2,093 carers across the UK found most worry about their cash, with two thirds saying the worry was affecting their health.

Worst affected by financial hardship are carers from ethnic minorities, those under the age of 40 and those claiming income support.

Mr Wilkes criticised the access to state support open to carers and the Invalid Care Allowance (ICA).

"At £40.40 per week the level of ICA is derisory," he said.

"To qualify, carers have to care for a minimum of 35 hours a week, which is equivalent to £1.15 per hour.

"Most care for 24 hours a day, which is 24p per hour.

"We hope the UK Government and the Scottish Executive will work closely with us to find creative ways to tackle carers' financial problems to counter the true costs of caring."