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| Carer grandparents 'face poverty' | Carer grandparents 'face poverty' |
| (2 days later) | |
| Younger grandparents caring for their grandchildren and their own elderly parents are increasingly being caught in a poverty trap, a charity has said. | Younger grandparents caring for their grandchildren and their own elderly parents are increasingly being caught in a poverty trap, a charity has said. |
| A third of grandparents in the UK aged under-55 are struggling financially, according to Grandparents Plus. | A third of grandparents in the UK aged under-55 are struggling financially, according to Grandparents Plus. |
| Its report includes research showing an increase in such "gran-carers" living alone and on low incomes. | Its report includes research showing an increase in such "gran-carers" living alone and on low incomes. |
| The report "challenges the cosy image we have of the retired grandparent," said the charity's head, Sam Smethers. | The report "challenges the cosy image we have of the retired grandparent," said the charity's head, Sam Smethers. |
| The report, the Poor Relation?, describes an "invisible generation" caught between the demands of their children, their children's children and their own parents. | The report, the Poor Relation?, describes an "invisible generation" caught between the demands of their children, their children's children and their own parents. |
| 'Gran-carers' | 'Gran-carers' |
| In these four and five-generation families, single, working-class grandmothers in particular can find themselves in a cycle of living on a low income while acting as unpaid carers. | In these four and five-generation families, single, working-class grandmothers in particular can find themselves in a cycle of living on a low income while acting as unpaid carers. |
| "For many, particularly the 'gran-carers' who are of working age, on low incomes and who provide most of the childcare, it's a real struggle," Ms Smethers said. | "For many, particularly the 'gran-carers' who are of working age, on low incomes and who provide most of the childcare, it's a real struggle," Ms Smethers said. |
| "They get no help with the challenge of combining work and care. As a result we see them taking low-paid, part-time work or dropping out of the labour market altogether," she said. | "They get no help with the challenge of combining work and care. As a result we see them taking low-paid, part-time work or dropping out of the labour market altogether," she said. |
| While the overall trend is for women to become mothers later in life - pushing back the age at which people become grandparents - this report highlights another group of families at the other end of the age range. | While the overall trend is for women to become mothers later in life - pushing back the age at which people become grandparents - this report highlights another group of families at the other end of the age range. |
| There are 1.5 million grandparents under the age of 50 - with younger grandparents more likely to come from less affluent families. | There are 1.5 million grandparents under the age of 50 - with younger grandparents more likely to come from less affluent families. |
| The report says that single younger grandparents, typically lone grandmothers, are particularly likely to be financially overstretched - three times more so than those with partners. | The report says that single younger grandparents, typically lone grandmothers, are particularly likely to be financially overstretched - three times more so than those with partners. |
| The research shows that the number of single grandparents has doubled in a decade - and the number of grandparents on low incomes has risen by a third. | The research shows that the number of single grandparents has doubled in a decade - and the number of grandparents on low incomes has risen by a third. |
| The single children of young grandparents will be particularly dependent - with half of such single parents relying on grandparents to provide childcare. | The single children of young grandparents will be particularly dependent - with half of such single parents relying on grandparents to provide childcare. |
| The charity wants carer grandparents to be able to work flexibly in the way that parents can - and to have "granny leave" when a grandchild is born. | The charity wants carer grandparents to be able to work flexibly in the way that parents can - and to have "granny leave" when a grandchild is born. |
| It also wants grandparents to be eligible for payment for childcare through tax credits if it allows their children to work. | It also wants grandparents to be eligible for payment for childcare through tax credits if it allows their children to work. |
| "Although overall the grandparent generation is getting older, it is younger, working-class grandparents who are more likely to suffer financial hardship. | "Although overall the grandparent generation is getting older, it is younger, working-class grandparents who are more likely to suffer financial hardship. |
| "We want this reality to be recognised by paying grandparents through the tax credit system for the childcare they provide," Ms Smethers said. | "We want this reality to be recognised by paying grandparents through the tax credit system for the childcare they provide," Ms Smethers said. |