Last week the government increased Carer’s Allowance for the half a million people who claim the benefit (5.5 million carers don’t get Carer’s Allowance). The payrise was….. 80 pence. It’s now worth £53.90 per week. Unlike all other benefits in return for Carer’s Allowance people must commit to work 35 hours a week caring. Of course many people are caring much longer hours than that.
In this photo the carer knows the value of his care is £800 per week. That’s what it would cost his local council to provide the care if he weren’t there. Imagine knowing that your efforts have a cash value of £800 but in fact you are being paid just under 7% of that – £54 a week.
That’s why it has to change. Join our campaign and say It’s time to support carers.
www.carersuk.org/Newsandcampaigns/Itstime
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When you care for a family member you are made to feel guilty for asking for help you are saving this goverment millions of pounds more
Recognition for carers is required now.
I am in the mkiddle of corresponding with my local MP about therse issues. Hisa name is Saun Woodward MP. He has written to me to tell me that He does not believe that 66000 people per day are registerinfg as carers in the UK. I also have a letter from Jonathan Shaw MNp Mionister For Disabled People and for the South East who states that Carers allowance is not a benefit but the government financial way of “thanking all who care for someone for 35 hours per week for giving up their time to do so.” He goes on to say that because Carers Allowance is not a benefit it is therefore not neccessary for it to be paid in line with the minimum working wage. Mr Shaw also adds that “All who recieve Carers Allowance have a carers Premuim, currently £29.50 per week included in the assesment of income-related benefits such as Income Support, Hpouising benefit and Council Tax Benefit. I truly wish i was savvy enough with M?Y PC to be able to copy both these letters and post tyhem on the main CPA site for alla to read them.
Althouighu i have not worked ouot how to do so yet I guaruntee I shall not rest until i have succeeded in doing so.
Hi Rougue Lion.
You may have mistyped? – the figure is that on average 6,600 people become carers each day – not 66,000.
Well done for writing to your MP and to the Minister – we have to keep the pressure on!
matt
matt matt thanks ffor the verification of the 6600. I had a sneaking suspision I was stating too high a number in 66000. Nontheless We Must continue. Surely the number of people becoming carers per day is academic- it is as you say 6600 yet My MP Mr Saun Woodward believes the number must run into hundreds of thousands per day.
RL
The important facts for MPs are that caring affects over 6 million in the UK – with around 2 million becoming carers each year there is a constant turnover of people. That’s a lot of their voters either caring for someone, used to be caring to someone, or are related to somone who’s caring. Basically who are carers? Carers are ALL OF US. Affects every single one of us.
Brilliant campaign!!!!!!!!! Tells it as it is from the carers – well done everyone involved!!
Why is it that the Government cannot see that for every single registerd carer they neglect as they are doing they are also neglecting at least one more person – the caree. Amazing how they would undoubtedly tell you that they would not harm the elderly/infirm etc. in any way in person yet still I read that elderly people are dyiong of hypothermia whilst sitting next to a gas fire wrapped in all their clothes and unable to afford to switch the fire on.