In June 2025 the Centre for Care hosted their second policy breakfast roundtable in a series of policy influencing events at the House of Commons.
This event was co-hosted with Steve Darling MP and focussed on the urgent need for Carer’s Allowance reform. Unpaid Carers support family, friends and neighbours with challenges related to disabilities, long-term illnesses, or older-age. However, the support that they provide often comes at a significant financial cost to them. Hosting the event alongside Steve Darling was ideal as he is a member of the Work and Pensions Committee and is a dedicated advocate for carers.
We heard compelling stories from Alison and Leanne who shared their experiences of claiming Carer’s Allowance. Their dedication to loved ones was obvious whilst they described the incredible challenges they have faced due to caring responsibilities. Alison spoke about first becoming a carer to her father when she was eight years old and described the chapters of caring responsibilities she has experienced. Leanne discussed the emotional toll of caring and financial instability contributing heavily to this.
Becky Driscoll from the Centre for Care presented information about the background and origin of the benefit whilst also providing an up to date overview of Carer’s Allowance . This was followed by a presentation from Dr Louise Overton, Louise discussed research exploring the Cost of Caring on financial wellbeing. This research introduces the multi dimensional model of unpaid carers financial wellbeing and also highlighted the experiences of people reporting stress, fear and intimidation felt by claiming Carer’s Allowance.
Professor Kate Hamblin discussed learning from other countries including Ireland, Australia and Scotland, based on her co-edited book Combining Work and Care. Kate highlighted how Australia and Scotland facilitate combining care and study, and how Australia offers carers allowance with no earnings limit.
Those in attendance shared their thoughts and vision for reform of Carer’s Allowance, they also discussed the barriers for reform. Attendees included Carers UK, Carers Trust, Disability Rights UK, Mencap and Women’s Budget Group (WBG) who brought a wealth of knowledge and provided insights which supported a rich discussion. They discussed the underpinning principles for reform which included valuing carers for the integral role they play in the health and social care system. The roundtable also discussed the need to modernise Carer’s Allowance to reflect the current realities of care and caring.
This event is an excellent example of the value of involving people with lived experience, practitioners and policy-makers together with researchers to share their combined expertise and passion for improving carers’ wellbeing.
The Centre for Care made important new connections, we are looking forward to working together as a collective to build the case for change and identify opportunities to inform upcoming debates related to Carer’s Allowance.
What next?
Read Professor Sue Yeandle’s commentary on the Carer’s Allowance scandal here: https://centreforcare.ac.uk/commentary/2024/04/carers-allowance-scandal/
Read our resulting Case for Change document here (PDF).
Watch our short video from the event here:
About the author
Fay is the Impact Specialist in the Centre for Care, working with academics and external partners including stakeholders, voluntary sector organisations and policy makers to mobilise research findings to achieve impact beyond academia. Her role is to work with our researchers to plan for impact. Fay identifies partnerships and explores collaborative opportunities to ensure research findings are widely shared, to influence practice and policy.
