|
29-08-2008
Citizens Advice has called on the government to act now to ensure a decent income for all carers in response to the Work and Pensions Select Committee report “Valuing and supporting carers” published today.
Citizens Advice welfare policy officer Vicky Pearlman, who gave evidence to the Select Committee, said:
“We welcome the Committee’s recognition that the current system of benefits for carers is outdated and needs to be radically overhauled. Evidence from Citizens Advice Bureaux shows that the current system is enormously complicated, and even DWP staff struggle to correctly identify, and clearly explain, the benefits that carers and their families are entitled to.
“At just £50.55 a week, Carer’s Allowance is the lowest paid benefit of its kind. We are therefore disappointed that the second National Carers Strategy published recently failed to provide any immediate financial help for carers who struggle to get by, promising instead a review of carers benefits. It is crucial that the Government takes action to boost carers’ incomes as a matter of urgency.
“If the Government is serious about reaching an 80% employment rate and empowering people to work, it needs to look seriously at how it can remove the barriers that make it very difficult for carers, especially those on means-tested benefits, to engage in the labour market. CAB advice work shows that, in practice, moving into work can be an extremely difficult decision. There is often no certainty you will be any better off financially. For carers, finding a job that pays a living wage is not enough - it needs to be flexible enough to enable them to combine paid work with their caring responsibilities, and there has to be high-quality, affordable and reliable alternative care available locally for the person they care for.”
Case studies
A disabled client in the North West found that his family would be worse off financially if his wife took up a job offer of 30 hours a week at the minimum wage. His wife received Carer’s Allowance for looking after him, but would lose this and other benefits if she returned to work. The client would lose his income support and mortgage interest payments as well as having to pay some council tax. As a result, the total family income would be considerably lower than if the client’s wife continued to care for him full-time. The CAB adviser stated “this means that the client finds himself in the poverty trap and there is no incentive to seek employment”. Instead, the family continued to struggle on a low income, incurring considerable debt and threatened with having to sell the family home.
A disabled client in the North West found that his family would be worse off financially if his wife took up a job offer of 30 hours a week at the minimum wage. His wife received Carer’s Allowance for looking after him, but would lose this and other benefits if she returned to work. The client would lose his income support and mortgage interest payments as well as having to pay some council tax. As a result, the total family income would be considerably lower than if the client’s wife continued to care for him full-time. The CAB adviser stated “this means that the client finds himself in the poverty trap and there is no incentive to seek employment”. Instead, the family continued to struggle on a low income, incurring considerable debt and threatened with having to sell the family home.
Notes to editors on Citizens Advice
- The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales;
 www.citizensadvice.org.uk
- The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
- Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at over 3,300 locations across England and Wales.
- Advice and information www.adviceguide.org.uk
- Volunteer hotline 08451 264264 (local rate)
- Citizens Advice Guide to your rights, second edition: January 2008 - over 600 pages of practical, independent CAB advice. An invaluable resource for any bookshelf - available from all good bookshops; price £11.99; ISBN: 9780141034089
|
