Carers UK's survey of 1,700 carers, published today (4 December), found that people caring for a disabled child aged under 18 are among the worst off.
Carers in Crisis found carers of disabled children were the most likely to be cutting back on food and to be in debt.
The report recommends that the government publishes a plan and timetable for ensuring that its 2018 vision for carers becomes a reality. The National Carers Strategy promised that no carer should fall into financial hardship because of their caring role.
Srabani Sen, chief executive of Contact a Family, which supports families with disabled children, said: "Everyone is struggling to afford grocery and fuel bills and to pay their mortgages.
"But it costs three times as much to raise a disabled child and this is putting families under enormous pressure just to survive in this unstable economic climate."
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