Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing a top-up payment to unpaid carers who are in receipt of Carer's Allowance, reflecting the supplementary and one-off payments received by unpaid carers in Scotland and Wales.

Carer’s Allowance is a devolved benefit under the Scotland Act 2016. The Scottish Government pays a Supplement to all its recipients, regardless of their means.

The payment made by the Welsh Government was part of the discretionary local welfare support offered under the Government of Wales Act 2006. It, similarly, was made regardless of means.

The UK Government takes a different approach and directs more of its financial support across Great Britain towards unpaid carers on the lowest incomes. For example, unpaid carers in receipt of Universal Credit can receive an additional £2,000 a year through the Carer Element, helping ensure this support goes to those most in need. The UK Government has therefore made no assessment relating to a top up payment to all recipients of Carer’s Allowance regardless of their means.