- author, isabel fry
- role, BBC News Manchester
A man who cares for his seriously ill wife full-time believes he and others like him are saving the government billions of pounds.
Martin Barrow, from Eccles, Greater Manchester, has cared for Anna since she was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND) in 2023.
His carer's allowance is £81.90 for 35 hours, or about £2 an hour, but the 39-year-old said: “The work never stops.”
The Government has announced that the allowance has been increased by £1,500 since 2010.
Carers UK estimates that unpaid carers across the UK save the government £162 billion a year.
The couple said they now have “70% less money” than before their diagnosis.
Barrow said he decided to take over his wife's care because the couple didn't want their 18-year-old daughter to care for her.
“She needs to live her life.
“I'm doing this job because I want to take care of my wife,” Barrow said.
Ms Barrow, 39, was diagnosed with MND in May 2023 at the age of 37, a debilitating disease that affects the brain and nerves and for which there is currently no treatment.
She said her husband's caregiving responsibilities were 24 hours a day, including “when he woke up in the middle of the night and was cooped up in bed,” and were never limited to 35 hours a week.
The Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA), which supports families across the UK, is calling on the government to increase unpaid carer allowances.
The MNDA's Kieran Arbruster said the allowance “needs to reflect the true value of care”. [carers] I’m giving.”
He said a “significant” number of carers were working more than 100 hours a week.
The MNDA estimates that carers caring for people with MND save £185 million a year on health and social care services.
A DWP spokesperson said that in addition to the £1,500 increase in carer's allowance, “there will be an average of £3,800 worth of living cost support per household, which will continue to support people in particular hardship.” Stated.
The spokesperson added: “Our green paper will also consider whether some people with certain health conditions or disabilities can be excluded from PIP assessments altogether.”
