The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced that it has commissioned research into the experiences of people claiming and receiving Carer’s Allowance. DWP Minister Tom Pursglove MP, explained that the Department is “reviewing the research results as part of our wider policy development and thinking around Carer’s Allowance”.
However, in a response to Labour’s shadow minister for work and pensions, Vicky Foxcroft MP, he said that the report will not be published while the research is ongoing. He also added: “If we decide to publish our findings, we will make them available to Parliament and online.”
The announcement follows several calls by MPs for changes to be made to Carer’s Allowance, a benefit which provides £69.70 each week to someone who provides at least 35 hours of unpaid care to a family member or friend.
The latest figures from the DWP show that in May there were 936,766 people receiving weekly payments of £69.70 for Carer’s Allowance, including 81,682 living in Scotland. However, new research from the Carers Trust suggests that some unpaid carers are relying on loans and credit cards to help them pay bills during the cost of living crisis.
As a result of its findings, the charity is urging the UK Government to provide additional cost of living support to unpaid carers now, and to develop a long-term funding strategy for social care. It said that Carer’s Allowance is not an adequate income replacement and recipients are more likely to struggle to make ends meet or use food banks compared to people who do not receive the benefit.
While Carer’s Allowance will rise in line with inflation next April, increasing from £69.70 per week to £76.75, claimants will still not be eligible for the new £900 cost of living payment announced in the Autumn Statement.
Carers Trust’s chief executive, Kirsty McHugh, said: “With little ability to work, unpaid carers simply cannot boost their earnings to meet the cost of living crisis.
“Yet they need to keep the heating on and equipment running to keep their sick and disabled relatives warm and safe.
“The recent Autumn Statement simply did not recognise the extra cost of being an unpaid carer.
“We therefore need to raise Carer’s Allowance urgently and to add it to the list of benefits qualifying for the additional £900 cost of living support payment.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to supporting people with the cost of living and we have provided at least an extra £1,200 of support to eight million of the most vulnerable households, while our Energy Price Guarantee will save people over £700 between October and March.
“We are also providing local authorities with £291.7 million in funding for short breaks and respite services for unpaid carers, as well as additional advice and support.”
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