1. FERMANAGH SOS Community Carers Branch NI.
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This is a PowerPoint on the state of caring in Northern Ireland

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3. FSOS Community Carers Branch NI.
State of caring in Northern Ireland
220,000 people in Northern Ireland provide unpaid care by looking after an ill, older or disabled family member, friend or partner. Yet often carers struggle for recognition and all too often go without the practical support them and the person they care for need from the wider health and care system, with severe consequences. Recent public consultations on the Health and Social Care Trust Savings Plans highlight the potential for reductions in domiciliary care packages, closure of hospital beds etc. which will ultimately impact on some carers even more.
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4. Costs of caring Northern Ireland’s 220,000 unpaid carers provide the majority of care for families, saving the Northern Ireland economy an estimated £4.6 billion per year 13.
Yet Carer’s Allowance is the lowest benefit of its kind, at just £62.70 a week for those who are eligible (2017/18 rates), 37p an hour for 168 hrs in a week, NOT ALLOWED to earn anything more than £120 per week.
This is why carers often report struggling financially. We regularly hear of families facing difficulties making ends meet and affording their basic living costs alongside the additional costs associated with caring. Financial constraints are made worse by many carers being forced to give up work as a result of their caring responsibilities, removing their opportunities to support themselves while they are supporting others.
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5. 57% of carers NI survey had an average monthly household income below £2,000, just below the Northern Ireland average monthly household income of £2,208 (Office of National Statistics, 2014).
35% of Northern Ireland carers said they were struggling to make ends meet, with
17% of respondents saying they are or were in debt as a result of caring. A number of people reported cutting back on items and activities which are fundamental to their wellbeing, including seeing family and friends or hobbies/leisure activities. Just over a quarter of those who were struggling to make ends meet said they were cutting back on essentials like food and heating, whilst 7% were cutting back on paying for support services which help with caring.
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6. 28% of respondents said they were using savings to care for loved
These coping mechanisms were reported to be the only way many carers could afford their basic living costs and the additional costs of caring but they were also said to have a significant impact on stress and anxiety and they are unlikely to be sustainable in the long-run.
28% of respondents said they were using savings to care for loved
35% of Northern Ireland carers said they were struggling to make ends meet, with
7% of respondents saying they are or were in debt as a result of caring.
State of Caring NI 2017 ones whilst others were reliant on credit cards and family members to support them financially. No one should have to suffer financial hardship as a result of caring and more should be done to ensure carers have enough money to provide care and support without it being detrimental to their lives.
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7. Eligibility for Carers Allowance
The person you care for
The person you care for must already get one of these benefits:
Personal Independence Payment - daily living component
Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate
Attendance Allowance
Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
Armed Forces Independence Payment
Your eligibility
You must earn no more than £120 a week after tax and expenses. Expenses can include:
50% of your pension contributions
some of the costs of caring for your children or the disabled person while you’re at work
All of the following must also apply:
you’re 16 or over
you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone
you’re not in full-time education
you’re not studying for 21 hours a week or more
you’re not subject to immigration control
You might still be eligible if you’re moving to or already living in another EEA country or Switzerland.
You might be eligible for Carer’s Credit if you’re not eligible for Carer’s Allowance.
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8. Concern about role of unpaid carers as number
of over 85s is set to double by 2035.
31 August 2018
The pressure on families and the health and care system is set to rise substantially as new research predicts the number of adults aged 85 and older needing round-the-clock care will almost double to nearly 450,000 in England by 2035, according to a study from researchers at the London School of Economics and the University of Newcastle published in The Lancet Public Health journal.
Emily Holzhausen OBE, Director of Policy, Carers UK, said:
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9. Quote form Elderly Lady
“ When the new carer came in for her 15 minute slot- by the time she found the kettle, milk & the sugar, it was time to go……….”
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11. Carers Contract No choice of life.
Under valued as a human being, (2nd class )
Under paid. 37per hour.
No right to retirement/no fat pensions
Working 168 hours a week.
Sleep Deprivation.
Stress, travelling & working with so many professionals/running to appointments.
Being a doctor, a nurse, a physio, a dentist, a social worker, a consultant, a advocate, a solicitor,
a taxi, a …………………list goes on
Assessments after assessments- repeating oneself over & over.
Ill health.
Mental fatigue.
Physical Exhaustion.
The lists goes on………………………………..
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15. 1 in every 8 adults is a carer
Any one of us has a 6.6% chance of becoming a carer in any year
Approximately 30,000 people in Northern Ireland care for more than one person
64% of carers are women; 36% are men
By 2037 the number of carers could have increased to 400,000
15% of the Northern Ireland workforce are balancing work and care
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16. Definition of carers
Care Givers are parents/carers who are unpaid carers
Who are sometimes trying to juggle their own work with care on top, which causes stress due to lack of sleep. They are financially being starved.
Care workers are paid carers.
Low paid care workers are employed by private agency's, who work just basic minimum wage, no travel expenses, the care agency's tailor the care need of the person to suit their financial agenda's/Profits.
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17. FSOS needs to call for Carers Givers Choice
The right to choose what care they wish to do.
The right to a quality of life, to be able to get out of survival & start to create life, i.e. plan rest periods, plan holidays.
The right to be valued for the work carers do
That means be given a living wage.
The right to retire & the right to a living pension.
The right to minimum 6 weeks respite a year.
Free bus passes to travel with whoever they caring for.
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