THEY are possibly Britain's largest unpaid workforce.

By 2037 there will be nine million carers in the UK looking after a disabled or poorly family member or friend.

Many carers are forced to curtail, or sacrifice, their own careers due to their caring role and the support they give undoubtedly eases the burden on the NHS.

Coping in a caring situation can already be stressful, without the additional financial worry many may have after giving up their livelihood to look after their loved one.

So the recent announcement to exempt those spending more than 35 hours a week caring for an adult from the benefit cap is bound to be a welcome relief to those who are affected.

Lord Freud, Minister of State for the Department for Work and Pensions, made the announcement - which came in response to an amendment tabled by Baroness Pitkeathley seeking to exempt carers who look after adult relatives from the cap - in a House of Lords debate on the Welfare Reform & Work Bill.

Carers UK has campaigned for changes to the benefit cap rules since the policy was first announced in 2010.

Helena Herklots, the charity's chief executive, says: "This is a significant victory for carers and carers' rights. By changing the law to exempt carers who receive Carer's Allowance from the benefit cap, the Government has shown that it recognises both the valuable contribution that carers make to society and that the benefit cap unfairly penalises carers - many of whom are already facing significant financial hardship as a result of their caring role."

Laura Kelsall, who works with carers through the charity Carers' Resource, based in Shipley, says: "I think it is a great decision."

She explains that the cap was seen by some to be discriminatory against some carers. "When they first brought the cap in it was intended to encourage people back into work. By placing carers in that position it implies they can take up employment, but for a lot of carers they have given up long term, well paid jobs."

Laura says the cap also left some people at a significant financial disadvantage, yet those who had given up their jobs had been forced to do so due to the nature of their caring role.

"It is difficult to be a carer anyway without the additional financial pressure," says Laura.

"I think for some people it is financially something they needed and will save financial worries and concerns, and I think for some people it is a moral victory to be recognised. It is an important societal role is a carer and it is the recognition of that and they are working in all but the sense of, a lot of people do more than 35 hours a week."

Chris Whiley, director of Carers' Resource, says: "This decision to scrap the controversial cap on benefits for carers who receive Carers Allowance shows there is some recognition of their role - and what their role means to society as a whole.

"Although this cap only affects those who care for an adult, unpaid, and for more than 35 hours a week, it does recognise that these carers are massively reducing the demand for state-funded health and social care.

"Most people wish to care for their relative or loved one themselves and don't necessarily see themselves as a 'carer' - it's what they do. However, their caring responsibilities do mean that they are not available for work, and therefore they cannot increase their income.

"Many people have had to give up paid employment due to their caring responsibilities which, in turn, can result in financial hardship and can grind them down.

"They can find themselves struggling to make ends meet as the needs of the person they care for creates higher-than-average bills and extra outgoings.

"Caring for someone day-to-day can be extremely challenging; it can have a negative effect on the carers' health and wellbeing. We need to offer as much support as we can to enable them to have a positive caring journey, and to care with confidence.

"Carers regularly report feeling isolated, it's a lonely role and sometimes it is a struggle to keep going, and to remain positive.

"In these circumstances any recognition and acknowledgement can be reassuring.

"It's a small victory - but there is still a way to go to help all carers get the support and recognition they deserve."