Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether carer's allowance payments are eligible to be counted towards the £118 earnings threasehold for statutory sick pay.

An employer is liable to pay Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if they have paid their employee at least £118 per week on average. State benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance are therefore not eligible to be counted towards the £118 earnings threshold for SSP.

We have a safety-net, through the welfare system, for those who are not eligible for SSP. We are already making sure that benefits are easily accessible and more supportive for those who need to make a claim.