Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of changing the eligibility criteria of the carer's allowance to allow carers to claim the allowance for caring for more than one individual.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
This Government recognises and values the vital contribution made by carers in supporting some of the most vulnerable in society, including pensioners and those with disabilities.
The benefit system supports unpaid carers primarily through Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Carer’s Allowance. The first two are payable to carers on low incomes who are respectively below or above State Pension age. They are means-tested and can be paid at a higher rate than to those without caring responsibilities through the Universal Credit carer element (currently £185.86 per monthly assessment period in addition to the standard allowance) or the additional amount for carers in Pension Credit (currently £42.75 a week in addition to the standard minimum guarantee).
Carer’s Allowance is not means-tested and is not based on National Insurance contributions. Its principal purpose is to provide a measure of financial support and recognition for people who give up the opportunity of full-time work in order to provide regular care for a severely disabled person. The main qualifying condition is that the carer is providing at least 35 hours of care to somebody in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit, and that no-one else is providing such care to that person. This has been the approach of successive governments and reflects wider social policy aims, as well as issues of affordability.
Nearly 60% of carers on low incomes who are of working age and on Carer’s Allowance claim an income-related means-tested benefit. More than 8 million households on means-tested benefits received Cost of Living Payments of up to £650 in 2022, and more than 8 million households will receive up to £900 in Cost of Living Payments in 2023/24. All pensioner households will also receive the £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment. Carers who are themselves disabled may also receive the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment, as will the people for whom they provide care. Overall, the Government is providing total support of over £94bn over 2022-23 and 2023-24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of bills. For people who require additional support, the Household Support Fund will continue until March 2024. This year-long extension allows local authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary support with the significantly rising cost of living to those most in need. The devolved administrations will receive consequential funding.
The Government keeps the qualifying conditions for Carer’s Allowance under review, but has no plans to amend them at this time.
Aug. 05 2009
Source Page: Table showing Working age Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance/Income Support claimants by statistical group for London local authorities and parliamentary constituencies, as at August 2008. 10 p.Found: Table showing Working age Incapacity Benefit/Severe Disablement Allowance/Income Support claimants by
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential merits of increasing the level of carer's allowance.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
There is a statutory annual review of benefit and pensions undertaken in the Autumn. The level of Carer’s Allowance is protected by up-rating it each year in line with the Consumer Prices Index. Since 2010, the rate of Carer’s Allowance has increased from £53.90 to £76.75 a week, providing just under an additional £1200 a year for carers through Carer’s Allowance.
The outcome of the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions’ review for 2023 will be announced later this year, following the publication of the relevant indices by the Office for National Statistics, and the new rates will enter into force from April 2024.
Mar. 21 2024
Source Page: Family Resources Survey Transformation: integrating administrative data into the FRSFound: These benefits include Universal Credit, Job Seeker's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Income
Jun. 13 2024
Source Page: Tribunals statistics quarterly: January to March 2024Found: Payment Scheme Disability Living Allowance Bereavement Benefit Carer's Allowance Child Benefit Lone Parent
Nov. 14 2023
Source Page: Benefits for carers and disability assistance at May 2023: summary statisticsFound: Carer's Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Severe Disablement Allowance
Report Jun. 06 2024
Committee: Social Justice and Social Security CommitteeFound: Assistance (Carer Support Payment) (Scotland) Regulations 2023 (the principal regulations) and the Carer's
Mar. 21 2024
Source Page: Family Resources Survey Transformation: integrating administrative data into the FRSFound: These benefits include Universal Credit, Job Seeker's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Income
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing Cost of Living Payments to recipients of Carer's Allowance.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The Government recognises and values the vital contribution made by carers every day in providing significant care and continuity of support to family and friends, including pensioners and those with disabilities.
Depending on personal circumstances, carers may be eligible for means-tested benefits, including Universal Credit and Pension Credit. Means-tested benefits can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities through the Carer Element in Universal Credit and the additional amounts for carers in other benefits respectively.
We would encourage anyone who is providing unpaid care, and who is not already in receipt of a means-tested benefit, to check on GOV.UK to confirm whether there are other benefits they may be entitled to. Advice can also be sought from organisations such as Carers UK and Citizens Advice. Means-tested benefits can provide extra weekly income and trigger extra support with the cost of living.
Nearly 60% of carers on low incomes who are of working age and on Carer’s Allowance claim an income-related means-tested benefit. More than 8 million households on means-tested benefits received Cost of Living Payments of up to £650 in 2022, and more than 8 million households will receive up to £900 in Cost of Living Payments in 2023/24. All pensioner households will also receive the £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment. Carers who are themselves disabled may have also received the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment in Spring 2023, as will the people for whom they provide care.
Overall, the Government is providing total support of over £94 billion over 2022-23 and 2023-24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of bills. For people who require additional support the Household Support Fund will continue until March 2024. This year-long extension allow’s local authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary support with the significantly rising cost of living to those most in need. The Devolved Administrations will receive consequential funding.
Mar. 14 2024
Source Page: Tribunals statistics quarterly: October to December 2023Found: Payment Scheme Disability Living Allowance Bereavement Benefit Carer's Allowance Child Benefit Lone Parent