Charity Urges UK Government to Extend Carers Allowance After Bereavement

The plight of Audrey and Eddie Buckham highlights the financial struggles faced by caregivers in the UK, where many end-of-life carers, including those who provide unpaid care, live in poverty. A report from Marie Curie reveals that approximately 22,500 unpaid carers are below the poverty line, and the situation worsens after bereavement due to funeral costs and loss of income. The charity is calling on the UK Government to extend Carers Allowance and introduce paid Carers Leave to support these individuals. In a related context, reforms in pension systems, such as those in the Netherlands, aim to improve intergenerational risk sharing, which is crucial amid changing economic conditions. A proposed policy change in the UK, set to take effect in 2027, will subject private pensions to inheritance tax, raising concerns among pension experts about the potential negative impact on retirement savings and the complexity it introduces for grieving families. Critics argue that this move could echo past government decisions that harmed pension systems and threaten the financial security of future retirees.