Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK said:
“We are delighted that Sir Stephen Timms MP has been appointed as the DWP Minister for Social Security and Disabilities. Through his role as Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee he has developed a good understanding of the key issues relating to Carer’s Allowance and the devastating impact of overpayments on unpaid carers. We therefore very much look forward to working with him to make life better for carers.
“Carers UK has long campaigned for a reform of the benefits system to end poverty amongst unpaid carers – most recently calling for urgent change to stop thousands of carers being unfairly pursued for Carer’s Allowance overpayments.
“Carer’s Allowance is the lowest benefit of its kind, currently just £81.90 per week, and is only available to carers who provide more than 35 hours a week of unpaid care. 71% of carers on Carer’s Allowance are worried about whether they can manage in the future and 23% are in debt because of caring. Many carers taking on the role for the first time are hit by a triple combination of extra caring costs, reduced earnings and low benefits rates. The recent sharp increases in living costs have meant that many carers have been cutting back on their essentials like food and heating to make ends meet. At the same time, their ability to earn a living alongside caring has been reduced over the years as the National Living Wage has risen faster than the earnings limit in Carer's Allowance. Many have cut back their hours or left the labour market altogether.
“We have been encouraged by pre-election statements including those from Liz Kendall, the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who has said that further investigation into Carer’s Allowance processes will be a priority. Measures put in place nearly five years ago to tackle overpayments have not delivered any material change to the number of carers experiencing overpayments. This issue is extremely pressing and cannot wait any longer.
“We hope that the assessment of overpayments will pave the way for a more comprehensive and wider review of Carer’s Allowance and other carers' benefits to ensure that these are able to provide the essentials that unpaid carers need to live a decent life whilst looking after someone else.”