UK Calls for Better Support for 1M Full-Time Family Carers

Britain is recognizing an unsung army of family heroes who deserve the support working parents now take for granted.

The Resolution Foundation's new report reveals one million people across the UK dedicate at least 35 hours weekly to caring for family members with disabilities or illnesses. That's the equivalent of a full-time job, making paid employment nearly impossible for many.

The burden falls hardest on families with modest incomes. Almost one in three working-age adults in lower-income households has a disability, compared with fewer than one in five in wealthier families. For these families, caring responsibilities often mean choosing between earning money and taking care of loved ones.

Mike Brewer, deputy chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, pointed to decades of progress supporting working parents through flexible hours, parental leave, and better pay. Now he's calling for the same attention to adult care.

"Britain is getting older and sicker, while a greater share of its population has a disability," Brewer said. The implications for unpaid care remain largely absent from political debate, despite affecting hundreds of thousands of families.

The report comes as Britain faces an aging society and rising rates of illness. These trends touch everyone, but hit poorest families hardest, creating financial strain alongside emotional exhaustion.

The Bright Side

The government is listening. Officials announced the biggest ever cash increase in earnings thresholds for Carer's Allowance, helping carers keep more of what they earn. Unpaid carers can now access support through the Better Care Fund, including short breaks and respite services.

Even more promising, the government is reviewing paid Carer's Leave. Just as parents now receive paid time off for childcare emergencies, family carers could soon get the same recognition and support.

A government spokesperson emphasized they understand both the difference carers make and the struggles they face. The combination of immediate financial help and longer-term policy reviews shows real movement on an issue that's touched millions of families quietly for too long.

Britain built a support system for working parents over decades, transforming how families balance jobs and childcare. Now the same energy is turning toward the million people who've been managing full-time care in the shadows, bringing hope that no one will have to choose between loving their family and making ends meet.