Calls to end the Carer’s Allowance work/benefit trap
The financial problems facing unpaid carers have finally been recognised publicly, alongside calls to fix the system that is punishing people for caring and working to support themselves.
In an editorial, the Guardian refers to what’s been described as a ‘catch out culture’ at the Department of Work and Pensions. Any carer earning over £151 a week must forfeit their entire Carer’s Allowance.
There have been numerous reports of carers accidentally breaching the limit, and losing their full allowance without notice. More than that, they have faced demands to repay allowances paid, even though they have had no warning that there was a problem.
The charity Carer’s UK has called for urgent action to prevent carers unintentionally racking up huge debts in the efforts to combine caring for family members with earning enough to make ends meet.
Carers can claim a weekly benefit of £81,90 if they can’t work full-time because of caring commitments. But they have to be extremely careful not to earn more than £151 a week after taxes or expenses, as that will mean losing their entitlement to the benefit.
Carers UK is calling for an increase to the earnings limit to the equivalent of 21 hours work and week at the National Living Wage. The charity also wants to see substantial overpayments where the carer could have been notified earlier written off. And it would like to see a taper system introduced, as already can be seen with Universal Credit, where payments are reduced in stages, rather than the ‘cliff edge’ that carers face. The charity would like to see a full review of Carer’s Allowance taking place to ensure unpaid carers are being effectively supported, and encouraged to work if possible.
The positive news is that the Labour MP Stephen Timms, who has been a vocal critic of the system that has plunged thousand into debt under threat of prosecution, has now been given ministerial responsibility for the issue. At the same time, one of the parties in opposition, the Liberal Democrats, did include concrete manifesto commitments to overhauling the system, and has since been calling for cross-party talks.
Find out more
- What is Carer’s Allowance and how can I claim it?
- Eligibility for Carer’s Allowance
- Carers UK
- Age UK
Image by DC Studio on Freepik
