Adults caring simultaneously for both young and older family members are having to reduce their hours or give up work, the Money Advice Service has said.
Research conducted by the service found that almost a third (32%) of so-called ‘sandwich carers’ living in the UK struggle to cover basic costs. It says 4.7m UK adults, 10% of all adults, fall under this definition. Around half of the carers earn less than £31,200 a year and a quarter have had to reduce their working hours, while a further 25% have had to give up work entirely.
The service said the number of sandwich carers looks set to rise, with the elderly living longer and rising tuition fees and house prices keeping children at home longer. Most have not put plans in place to manage the financial impact.
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