One in five care workers living in poverty, report shows

Residential care workers are more likely to be living in poverty and deprivation than other UK workers, new analysis has revealed today.

A new report by the Health Foundation shows one in five care workers are living in poverty, compared to one in eight of all UK workers. The charity also found twice as many of these workers drew on universal credit and legacy benefits from 2017 to 2020 – 20% of these workers compared to 10% of all workers.

The Health Foundation is calling on the Government to provide additional investment to address low pay and poor working conditions in the social care sector. Hugh Alderwick, director of policy at the Health Foundation, said: ‘Social care workers – who are mostly women – play a vital role in society but are among the lowest paid workers in the UK, and experience shocking levels of poverty and deprivation. Many cannot afford enough food, shelter, clothing and other essentials, putting their health at risk.