Key Ask 3: Introduce a Carer's Recognition Payment - NIAPN - Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network

There are over 220,000 people providing unpaid care in Northern Ireland. Of these, approximately 17,500 are young carers or young adult carers (aged 25 years or under).

More than 1 in 4 unpaid carers live in poverty in Northern Ireland, but this rises to nearly 1 in 2 carers who are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance.

For these reasons, the Cliff Edge Coalition is calling on Stormont to introduce a Carer’s Recognition Payment and a Young Carer’s Recognition Payment.

Read Cliff Edge Coalition’s full briefing below:

Carers Payment briefing 2026 Download

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