Carers can’t live on 51p an hour | Letter
Emma Sainsbury questions whether government policy takes sufficient account of people whose caring responsibilities shape their finances and ability to keep a home For 13 years, I
By The Guardian
Emma Sainsbury says Carer’s Allowance does not reflect the financial reality of providing round-the-clock care for a family member.
Writing in The Guardian, Ms Sainsbury said she had cared for her 101-year-old adoptive mother for 13 years. She described caring for her as a privilege and said she had no regrets, but added that “love does not pay the bills”.
Carer’s Allowance is due to be £86.45 a week in 2026-27. Ms Sainsbury calculated that, spread across 168 hours, this works out at roughly 51p an hour.
She said she was her mother’s sole carer and had no downtime. Although she continued to work part-time as a self-employed therapist, she said her work stopped when her mother became unwell while household bills continued.
The letter questions whether government policy properly accounts for people whose caring responsibilities affect their earnings and ability to maintain a home.
Carer’s Allowance is available to people who provide at least 35 hours of care each week for someone with an illness or disability. The weekly earnings limit is £204 after permitted deductions, according to information reported by the BBC.
The government has said it has increased the earnings threshold for Carer’s Allowance and is seeking to improve support for unpaid carers.