What do unpaid carers want from next week's Budget?

Unpaid carers who say they always have to "fight the system" have appealed for more financial support in the upcoming Budget.

Chancellor John Healey will set out the new Andy Burnham government's tax and spending plans when he delivers his first Budget speech on 28 October.

According to the charity Carers UK, there are an estimated 280,000 unpaid carers in Greater Manchester alone.

The true numbers are thought to be much higher because many carers do not see themselves as such.

A week before the Budget, BBC North West has spoken to caregivers about the changes they want to see.

Chichi, Jennifer, Paul, Madiha, Ina and Justine meet regularly at Ordsall Hall in Salford for a bit of time out.

The sessions are organised by the Greater Manchester-based mental health and carers' charity Gaddum.

Justine cared for her mum, who had dementia, until her death last year.

The 59-year-old from Salford said it had been a "battle every day" just to arrange the most basic things that "should just happen".

Justine wants the Budget to find money to ensure "a uniform system" is created for carers since the current system is "a minefield - nothing is cohesive".

Now 37, Madiha has been caring for her mum since she was 14.

She says the strain of combining work with being a full-time carer can cause severe stress and anxiety.

However, she says "the biggest emotion is grief", and explains this means the loss of "childhood, our freedom, opportunities".

All of the carers we spoke with agree that trying to juggle working and caring for a loved one is extremely difficult.

"It's just about fitting everything in," says 57-year-old Paul, who looks after his 91-year-old mum.

"For me, it adds pressure holding down a full-time job, as well as fitting in appointments around that.

"Unfortunately I think there are so many competing priorities for any money that's available. So I think it's very limited on what we can expect (from the Budget) realistically."

Chichi is 52 and has two daughters, one of whom has a rare condition.

She works full time but says sometimes it does not feel worthwhile.

"Your wages are nothing because it all goes to caring," she said. "It's not enough, you're like 'how am I going to cope?"

Carers UK says many carers are under high financial pressure.

It believes carers' benefits are long overdue for reform and is calling on the government for urgent action to help carers stay in the workforce.

This would include introducing a statutory right to paid carer's leave and targeted support for unpaid carers, particularly for those unable to work or are on the lowest incomes.

The charity estimates that, every day for the last two years, about 1,500 people left their jobs to provide unpaid care.

Its policy and public affairs director Emily Holzhausen CBE said: "It is deeply worrying to see growing numbers of unpaid carers leaving employment.

"These figures represent real people who have had to make difficult decisions about their careers, their financial security and their futures due to the pressures of balancing work and care."

One of those who has had to give up working is Jennifer.

The 44-year-old dancer, from Worsley, Salford, is now the sole carer for her 84-year-old dad.

She receives carer's allowance of £86.45 a week.

To be eligible to claim you must look after someone with an illness or a disability for at least 35 hours a week.

If you earn more than £204 per week - after deductions such as income tax, National Insurance and certain expenses - you cannot claim.

"Carer's allowance is less than jobseeker's allowance," said Jennifer.

Because she's a full-time carer for her father, she cannot look for work to top up her carer's allowance.

This, she argues, is deeply unfair.

"You shouldn't have to lose money... to care for someone," she said, "when what you are doing saves the public purse so much."

Ina, who cares for her daughter, agrees that the system must change.

"However it is arranged, carers should have enough to live on," said the 60-year-old.

She said that would still be a "much cheaper option" than asking the public to pay for their loved one's care needs.

Madiha also believes there is a better way.

Instead of carer's allowance, which she described as being "next to nothing", she suggested that caregivers should be paid an hourly rate.

So what can the government do to help these six carers and millions like them?

"Andy Burnham must invest more in health and social care and give more support to the unpaid carers" said Chichi.

Carers "don't ask for much", she said, but "the little bit we ask for, please government, listen to us."

A government spokesperson said: "Unpaid carers make an invaluable service in our communities, caring for loved ones, often putting the needs of others before their own.

"We've delivered the biggest increase to the Carer's Allowance earnings threshold since the 1970s and through our unpaid carers action plan are improving the support available.

"We know there is more to do, which is why Baroness Casey's commission is looking at the support unpaid carers need."

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