Not for profit organisation the Vulnerability Registration Service (VRS) has launched a new ‘flag’ service to help unpaid carers get the financial support and recognition they need.
People can already register with the VRS, which manages the UK’s central vulnerability database, to access greater support. It is something that charity Carers UK already directs people to sign up to if they are facing particularly challenging circumstances.
However, VRS said it believes unpaid carers, more generally, are among the people most at risk of being or becoming vulnerable. Therefore it is vital that their circumstances are taken into account by the organisations that serve them, which includes banks, financial services, insurers, local government, utilities, mortgage and housing.
Once registered on the system, VRS uses the data to work with these organisations to better serve vulnerable people.
Flag service launches
Today, the body has launched a new ‘flag’ service specifically for unpaid carers, who can register for free.
VRS said the service aims to connect carers to the specific support for funding and low-cost services that are available to them. It recognises that these are not always easy to find, access or understand, particularly if you are a stressed out and time poor unpaid carer.
The new flag service will highlight their specific circumstances to organisations they use. In turn, these organisations can use the VRS to proactively identify customers who are unpaid carers to ensure they provide the most appropriate advice and support.
2.5 million unpaid carers in work
Greater support is paramount as there are an estimated 5.7 million unpaid carers in the UK.
And data from the census 2021 showed that there are 2.5 million unpaid carers in employment in England and Wales.
Carers UK said that an average of 600 people a day leave work to care foe people, while more than 500,000 people left their job to provide unpaid care before the pandemic.
Previous research from VRS found that two in five carers consider themselves vulnerable.
Nearly one in four are struggling with their mental health and more than one in five are in financial distress and finding it difficult to stay on top of their payments.
Carers ‘excluded from support’
Helen Lord, CEO of VRS, said: “It’s not just the day-to-day care of another person’s health. Carers are also faced with trying to manage the financial affairs of the people they care for with providers that have data protection restraints in place, making it very difficult and time consuming for them to make any progress.
“Unpaid carers consistently find themselves at the bottom of the priority list and overwhelmed by the pressures they face. Many have had to give up jobs, impacting them financially. Those that manage to juggle a job with care commitments find themselves excluded from financial support, such as carers allowance.”
Madeleine Starr, director of carer services at Carers UK, said: “Carers are making an enormous contribution to society, but many are at breaking point, facing challenges managing caring alongside their own health and wellbeing. They feel invisible and overlooked. It is crucial that they are seen and actively supported by their communities, by the government and by the organisations that service them. We welcome the VRS development and see it as a valuable step towards helping carers feel seen and more supported.”
Rachael Walker, policy and research director at Policy in Practice, said: “Providing support to unpaid carers should be a national priority, and yet the system of financial support currently available is falling short. With more than £2.2 billion in unclaimed carer’s allowance, unpaid carers shore up our national health and social care services, and are often living in poverty and debt as a result. We owe it to carers to provide support when we can, and flagging their status through the VRS is a great step towards this.”
