Poverty

Finance can be a real challenge for unpaid carers. According to Carers UK, one third of carers are struggling to pay utility bills, 47% have been in debt and half are struggling to make ends meet, cutting back on food and heating as a result (Carers UK, 2020). Another disadvantage is that student carers are not entitled to receive Carers Allowance when studying full time, even if they are caring for more than 35 hours (Gov.uk, 2020).

Financial support from the university such as bursaries, discretionary funds or money advice can be vital for many student carers.