Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of support for unpaid carers with the rising cost of living.

The primary purpose of Carer’s Allowance is to provide a measure of financial support and recognition for people who give up the opportunity of full-time employment in order to provide regular and substantial care for a severely disabled person.

The level of Carer’s Allowance is protected by uprating it each year in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The rate will increase from 11 April, which means that since 2010, the rate of Carer’s Allowance will have increased from £53.90 to £69.70 a week, providing an additional £800 a year for carers through Carer’s Allowance.

In addition to Carer’s Allowance, carers on low incomes can claim income-related benefits, such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit. These benefits can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities through the carer element and the additional amount for carers respectively. The Universal Credit carer element will increase in April to £168.81 per monthly assessment period, and the additional amount for carers in Pension Credit will increase to £38.85 per week. This means carers can receive an additional £2,000 a year.

We recognise that many people, including carers, are facing pressures with the cost of living – which is why we’re providing support with the cost of living worth £22 billion across this financial year and next.