CAMPAIGNERS reported today that a quarter of unpaid carers in Wales live in poverty, with 9 per cent experiencing deep poverty.
The figures, from a WPI Economics report for Carers Wales, also found many unpaid carers are forced to reduce working hours or leave employment because of their responsibilities.
Housing also remains a major concern, with the need for adapted homes contributing to financial pressures carers face and often forcing them to live in unsuitable homes.
Rob Simkins of Carers Wales said that the findings show a need for urgent action.
“Unpaid carers in Wales provide invaluable care, often at great cost to their health and wellbeing, as well as their own finances,” he said.
“Research shows that in Wales alone, the care provided by Wales’s unpaid carers saves the state over £10 billion per year and has a huge impact on the wellbeing of the people they provide care for.
“It is essential that both the Welsh and UK governments, as well as local authorities across Wales, take swift and decisive action to better support unpaid carers.”
Chris Kemp-Philp from Newport has been an unpaid carer for more than 40 years and said the report shows unpaid carers are being pushed into poverty by the sacrifices they make.
“When unpaid carers do so much for the people they provide care to, as well as helping relieve the strain on local health and social care services, it’s hard to believe that we’re left behind with such little support,” Mr Kemp-Philp said.
Welsh Conservative Senedd member Dr Altaf Hussain said: “Labour’s Carers Support Fund is not fit for purpose, given Labour ministers plan to spend eight times as much on creating more politicians every single year.”
The Welsh government’s Carers Support Fund is valued at £4.5 million over two years.
Around £17.8m has been earmarked to increase the size of the Senedd in 2026 by 36 politicians.
A Welsh government spokesperson said: “We highly value the vital role unpaid carers play in our communities and are committed to ensuring support continues to be available.
“We have provided £4.5m for the Carers Support Fund which has delivered small grants to 17,500 unpaid carers in the last two years.”
