More than a quarter of Fife’s army of unpaid carers are spending at least 50 hours per week looking after others, it has been revealed.
The majority of those with the biggest burden are pensioners, although many are younger with homes and families to look after.
Those spending long hours caring have reported the strain is affecting their health, prompting calls for better support for carers.
3 October 2014 Last updated at 01:33
Citizens Advice Scotland said people are waiting an average of six months between claiming the new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and receiving the payment.
This can have a knock-on effect on other benefit claims, it said.
PIP has been introduced in Scotland over the past year.
It is part of wider welfare reforms by the UK government, and has replaced the Disabled Living Allowance (DLA) as the main benefit that helps disabled people meet the costs of their basic daily living.
