Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Gregg McClymont and Maria Miller

Monday 18th October 2010 Commons Chamber

[Maria Miller]

I thank my hon. Friend for his question, in which he outlines some of the complexities that disabled people face when they try to get back into the workplace. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said earlier, we want to ensure that work pays for everybody who wants and is able to get back into the workplace. That principle underpins all the work that we are undertaking.

[Gregg McClymont (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) (Lab)]

13. Whether carer’s allowance payments will be included in the proposed cap on benefit payments.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Maria Miller)]

We expect the benefit cap to apply to the combined income from all main out-of-work benefits. However, we will exempt all households with someone entitled to disability living allowance, many of which will contain claimants receiving carer’s allowance.

[Gregg McClymont]

I thank the Under-Secretary for that answer. Will she publish her assessment of the impact of the policy on poverty among carers?

[Maria Miller]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. We obviously want to ensure that the policy works for everybody involved. The benefit system is designed to maintain a basic income for carers when caring responsibilities prevent them from working full time. It is right that carer’s allowance is paid with reference to what families could expect to earn if they were in fully paid work, but we will keep the policy under review and ensure that it works for carers.