Unpaid carer organisations in Cumbria are supporting financial expert Martin Lewis' plea to Chancellor Jeremy Hunt to review Carer’s Allowance payments before the Spring Budget on March 6.

Carer Support Cumbria is backing an appeal for greater attention to the needs of unpaid carers.

Dr Dani Leslie, Carer Support Carlisle and Eden CEO, said: "We are grateful to Martin Lewis for asking the Chancellor direction to act on this issue which we have been campaigning about alongside Carers UK for some time.

"In Cumbria, more than 56,000 people are providing unpaid Care for family and friends."

A Charity UK survey shows that one in six (16 per cent) unpaid carers are now in debt.

Dr Leslie said: “When caring for someone who is frail, turning down the heating is not an option and when caring for someone who has incontinence issues, not using the washing machine, dryer or launderette isn’t an option."

During the TV interview with Martin Lewis, the Chancellor said the Carer’s Allowance was never intended to become an income replacement.

He said: "I don’t think it’s possible for the state to fully replace income but we have increased the Carers Allowance and we will continue to keep it under review."

Carer’s Allowance is set to increase from £76.75 to £81.90 from April 8, while the earnings threshold will be bumped up to £151 from £139.

Helen Walker, Carers UK chief executive, said: "Our social care system has received a chronic lack of attention, commitment and funding from the government for far too long and this is having devastating consequences for hundreds of thousands of unpaid carers and the people they support - not to mention the care sector and the wider economy."

Support and advice for unpaid carers are accessible through local organisations via www.carerssupportcumbria.co.uk.