22 November 2005- Publication of DWP research report no. 290 - Carers’ aspirations and decisions around work and retirement
A report has been published today.
The main findings were:
- A complex interplay of factors influenced carers’ decisions about work, retirement and care-giving. These included financial issues, carers’ health, personal factors, work-related issues, support services, issues related to the care recipient, and distances and travelling times. Generally, decisions were the result of clusters of factors. Uncertainties and unknowns regarding factors such as the carers’ or the care recipients’ health, or changes at key transition times, made decision-making even more complicated.
- Carers’ knowledge about pensions in general and the impact of care-giving on pensions in particular was low. Many carers prioritised managing current financial pressures and commitments above planning and making financial provisions for their future retirement.
- Services that would make it easier for carers to combine work and care included longer day centre hours, childcare and after school clubs for disabled children and practical help with domestic chores.
- Both carers and professionals felt that the value of Carer’s Allowance, the main welfare benefit for carers, was too small. In addition, carers believed that the earnings threshold was too small, and that it may work as a disincentive to carers to work more hours. It was not flexible enough for some carers because earnings could not be averaged out over a number of weeks.
- Working carers reported benefiting from both formal and informal workplace policies and practices. Flexible starting and finishing times were important, as was the ability to take time off in emergencies and for planned appointments.
- Carers’ centres indirectly helped carers remain in work by providing listening services, counselling, advocacy, referrals to social services and access to short breaks.
- Inter-agency collaboration between Jobcentre Plus, social services departments and carers’ organisations to help carers maintain, or find, work was limited, reflecting information gaps about what organisations existed to support carers and what services they offered.
Notes for Editors
- The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) commissioned the Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York to conduct research exploring the aspirations and decisions around work and retirement of people looking after disabled or sick relatives, friends, or older people.
- The study involved three elements: a literature review; in-depth interviews with eighty carers; and focus groups with professionals from Jobcentre Plus, social services departments and carers’ organisations who worked with carers.
- A copy of the report can be found online: www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5
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Prepared by: Department for Work and Pensions Disability and Carers Analysis Division