unpaid carers.

bigguy201

I don't mind sharing my story. I became a full time carer in June 2020 when my mum had a brain haemorrhage right in the hight of the pandemic, previous to that I had been a NHS 111 Call handler. Since then its been down hill all around really, my father died suddenly in April 2022 aged just 70, so everything seams to have fallen on my shoulders. I've never felt supported as a carer especially by any of the government bodies, I am constantly made to feel like I should just 'get back to work', as if am on holiday or something. The carers allowance is a pittance, I had previously saved money for a deposit on a house before all this happened, so this makes me ineligible for any other financial support, I have to dwindle everything I've worked to save for, and once I have nothing, then I can get help. Disillusioned is an understatement, only in England can they get away with such treatment of carers who save the NHS billions every year. Even in Scotland carers get a lot more. Just makes my life so much harder when I am trying to do the right thing for my mum.

43722

I encountered this years ago. It absolutely stinks.

dawnt80

I'm in Scotland & things are just as grim

dawnt80

I'm in Scotland & things are just as grim

bigguy201

dawnt80 said:

I'm in Scotland & things are just as grim

Hey, I thought you got 2x 'additional payments' in Scotland, here you just get £76 a week and that's it, not even cost of living payments.

Collyb

I understand how you feel.  My youngest son had an accident in 2016 and I have worked full time all my life but had to make big changes in order to look after him.  Initially I put my work hours down to 12 per week and received the pitiful Carers allowance.  I really struggled to survive and pay my bills.  Then covid hit and I was working from home so I put my hours up to 29 hours per week and stopped receiving the pitiful Carers Allowance.  I am still working 29 hours per week although I am really struggling with it.  I do not get any free time at all.  I am very stressed out.  It just seems to be such a struggle as I don't have the time to even look after myself.  When I first put my hours up to 29 per week I didn't know when the cut off point was regarding the Carers Allowance and I had to pay back some money.  I struggled to do this but had no choice but to pay it back at so much per month.  It all seems so unfair.  Life and circumstances are stressful enough without the Government adding to your burden.