From healthcare to carers’ care

The rising prevalence of ill-health and disability across Britain has been under the spotlight recently; not least the implications for the country’s benefits bill. But the impact on those who are ill or disabled, and the family members who care for them, has been less discussed. Disability and the caring needs that can come with it already disproportionately affect the poorer half of Britain, and many of these families face a severe income penalty as a result.

How do disabilities and caring responsibilities, sometimes both together, affect low-to-middle income families’ lives and living standards? Why are carers undervalued, and how can that be changed? How can those with fluctuating health conditions be better supported? And should the Government think again about how the benefits system can be made more effective in supporting carers?