Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: “We are pleased to see strong agreement and support for unpaid carers from across the political spectrum, during last night’s debate. MPs from a range of political parties rightly highlighted the huge financial challenges unpaid carers face and agreed with our call for a full review and positive reform of Carer’s Allowance – the lowest benefit of its kind – and the development of a new National Carers Strategy.

“While we welcome the Minister’s confirmation that DWP are considering carefully when they will publish the research on Carer’s Allowance that was undertaken several years ago, it is hugely disappointing that no timeline for this has been set out and no firm commitment has been made by Government to review Carer’s Allowance or to introduce a National Carers Strategy.

“Unpaid carers save the state a staggering £162 billion each year – the equivalent to a second NHS. But despite this, unpaid carers receive little recognition and support with many telling us they feel invisible, forgotten and at breaking point.

“Unpaid carers need and deserve better. We must increase their financial resilience and better support those who want to work part-time by raising the earnings limit to the equivalent of 21 hours at the rate of the National Living Wage, and making sure it rises in line with any future increases to the National Living Wage.

“Thousands of unpaid carers have been unfairly pursued for overpayments and this must never happen again. We are calling for a clear threshold for debt incurred – a maximum limit which triggers an examination to address cases of overpayment promptly, avoiding further financial difficulties and heartache for families. Larger overpayment debts also need to be written off. A better, modernised system would also allow for a taper to be introduced, so that carers do not lose all of their allowance when they breach the earnings limit by £1.00.”

“Last week, we launched our manifesto which calls for all political parties to commit to a new social contract for carers including an independent inquiry to explore long-term solutions to bring more unpaid carers out of poverty. We must see the needs of carers prioritised, many of whom have little choice but to give up work to care.”