The Department for Work and Pensions is expanding access to a key benefit through a rule change that will allow more claimants to receive Carer's Allowance. Social Security and Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms has confirmed the adjustments in a recent interview.
Changes to Carer's Allowance
Speaking on BBC Radio Five Live, the Labour Party cabinet member highlighted the importance of unpaid carers and outlined the modifications. “We owe a huge amount to all these unpaid carers. They're doing a fantastic job, obviously, looking after the people who they're caring for, but actually, they're doing a great job for all of us, and we want to do a better job in supporting them,” Timms stated.
The primary change involves increasing the earnings threshold for Carer's Allowance. Currently, claimants can earn up to a certain amount and still receive the benefit, but exceeding that limit disqualifies them. By raising this threshold, an additional 60,000 carers will become eligible, joining the over one million already claiming the allowance.
“Once you go over that threshold, you can't claim Carer's Allowance anymore. So, we've increased that. That's going to mean an extra 60,000 carers being able to claim Carer's Allowance on top of over a million who are already claiming it,” Timms explained.
Additional Financial Support
Timms noted that Carer's Allowance is not the only form of financial assistance available. “Over a million people are getting that, but there are also people receiving additional support for caring in Universal Credit - that's for working-age people - and also Pension Credit for people above State Pension age. So, there is other financial support being provided as well.”
Benefit Details
Carer's Allowance offers £86.45 per week to individuals who care for someone for at least 35 hours a week, provided the person being cared for receives certain benefits. Claimants do not need to be related to or live with the person they care for. However, no extra payment is made for caring for multiple individuals, and if multiple people care for the same person, only one can claim the allowance.
