Carers 'worried about more welfare cuts' charity warns

Around half of carers are struggling to make ends meet and worried about how further cuts to welfare will impact them, a charity has warned.

Carers UK said it was calling on the Government to help the millions of carers who provide vital help to others by providing them with better financial support.

The charity has released a report based on the experiences of 4,500 carers, with most (84%) saying their caring duties made them feel stressed and more than half (55%) experiencing depression.

About eight out of 10 (82%) of those surveyed said that looking after a disabled, older or seriously-ill relative or friend has had a negative impact on their health, with almost three-quarters (74%) struggling to get enough sleep.

The charity said that during the next five years under the Tories, 10.6 million people will take on a new caring role for a disabled, older or seriously-ill relative or friend.