Carers Allowance under Labour

MouldyOldDough

I seem to remember a promise from Starmer at Elections - something about Carers Allowance being increased ?

Yet - looking at the Manifesto now - I see nothing beneficial

"On unpaid carers – including Carer's Allowance, back payments and cliff-edges

We asked: Will you improve help for unpaid carers? Including...

Q Those on Carer's Allowance lose it all if they earn a penny over £151 a week – will you end this cliff-edge cut-off and taper the limit?
Q Will you increase the Carer's Allowance payment?
Q Will you help those who are being chased for huge back payments, even for just going pennies over?

Carrie from Hertfordshire: "I have had to reduce my working hours by three days a week to care for my elderly mother. I'm only earning £30 a week above the limit to claim Carer's Allowance but I can't reduce my hours at work any further. Unpaid carers save the Government thousands, if not millions of pounds."

Sir Keir: "My mum had a debilitating illness, Still's disease. She never gave up, but her illness did shape our lives. I know how hard managing care responsibilities is for many families and we have to make sure the system works for those caring for loved ones.

"It is outrageous that Conservative mismanagement of the system has caused untold stress to carers overpaid through no fault of their own and I know it is causing a huge amount of stress for the carers concerned. This is something we would look into right away in Government when we can examine all of the relevant information and data.

"I can see no reason why carers cannot be immediately alerted if they go over the earnings threshold, and I am committed to putting the right safeguards in place to fix this for the long-term so more families do not suffer through no fault of their own. We will also ensure that any repayments are managed in a fair way for carers.

"A Labour Government will also support unpaid carers by introducing the right to flexible working and provide time away from work for caring responsibilities, join up services and support so families don’t have to battle their way around the system, and we will give people in care homes a new legal right to see their loved ones."

He didn't answer the question "Q Will you increase the Carer's Allowance payment?"

Starmer thinks that carers can take a"holiday" from caring - what about the person who is being cared for ?

What happens to them in the time that the government is ALLOWING the carer to take time off ?

LinLui

I am no fan of Starmer, but the previous governments have nigh on bankrupted every budget going. So perhaps you could allow them more than a couple of weeks to fix the problems that were a decade in the making?

Spoonie_Turtle

MouldyOldDough said:

Starmer thinks that carers can take a"holiday" from caring - what about the person who is being cared for ?

What happens to them in the time that the government is ALLOWING the carer to take time off ?

This is already in the Carers Allowance rules.

MouldyOldDough

Spoonie_Turtle said:

MouldyOldDough said:

Starmer thinks that carers can take a"holiday" from caring - what about the person who is being cared for ?

What happens to them in the time that the government is ALLOWING the carer to take time off ?

This is already in the Carers Allowance rules.

I am aware of the 12 week rule - but I was wondering whether Starmer was aware that the person being cared for does not, magically improve enough not to need caring for - during the carers break ?

Muttleythefrog

MouldyOldDough said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

MouldyOldDough said:

Starmer thinks that carers can take a"holiday" from caring - what about the person who is being cared for ?

What happens to them in the time that the government is ALLOWING the carer to take time off ?

This is already in the Carers Allowance rules.

I am aware of the 12 week rule - but I was wondering whether Starmer was aware that the person being cared for does not, magically improve enough not to need caring for - during the carers break ?

Of course he will be.

 Not sure to what you refer but you quote and bold this which I assume is relevant to what you're saying..

"..time away from work for caring responsibilities"

He's talking not about holidays/breaks away from the cared for person he's referring to flexible working that enables someone to care for the cared for person...i.e. it feeds into Labour's plans to increase people's working potential across the board. (And yes some carers will never realistically have such an opportunity due to the heavy demand of the care as he will undoubtedly recognise).

As above otherwise holiday is possible within the rules... but my view is given the state of public finances you are unlikely to see any special rises (i.e. other than an annual inflation related uprating) in CA any time soon and I don't think there were any proposals for this in the campaign but I'm happy to be corrected. It's the sort of thing that would have stood out in a policy light election campaign. In fact benefits is one area that was distinctly light in terms of policy of parties during the election campaign and the new government is still not saying much as it faces some very tough decisions on spending going forward... and I suspect on benefit reforms it could take some time and involve the good old public consultations although hopefully not the one launched just before the election.

"What happens to them in the time that the government is ALLOWING the carer to take time off ?" - this question is superfluous if I'm right in thinking you've misunderstood what you quote as there doesn't seem reference to taking time off from caring (mind you I'm in pain and heavily medicated right now so please accept my apologies if I'm completely missing something in your opening post... I ended up in the ladies toilets by accident just a few days ago!).

MattMattMattUK

MouldyOldDough said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

MouldyOldDough said:

Starmer thinks that carers can take a"holiday" from caring - what about the person who is being cared for ?

What happens to them in the time that the government is ALLOWING the carer to take time off ?

This is already in the Carers Allowance rules.

I am aware of the 12 week rule - but I was wondering whether Starmer was aware that the person being cared for does not, magically improve enough not to need caring for - during the carers break ?

I am sure he is. What is the point of that statement/question though?

beanielou

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MouldyOldDough

MattMattMattUK said:

MouldyOldDough said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

MouldyOldDough said:

Starmer thinks that carers can take a"holiday" from caring - what about the person who is being cared for ?

What happens to them in the time that the government is ALLOWING the carer to take time off ?

This is already in the Carers Allowance rules.

I am aware of the 12 week rule - but I was wondering whether Starmer was aware that the person being cared for does not, magically improve enough not to need caring for - during the carers break ?

I am sure he is. What is the point of that statement/question though?

Trying to find out whether the new PM was planning to increase CA to something more meaningful

in Canada - Caregivers allowance is up to $668 per week

US - Its $2803 per month

EU varies around Euros 250 per week

HillStreetBlues

MouldyOldDough said:

MattMattMattUK said:

MouldyOldDough said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

MouldyOldDough said:

Starmer thinks that carers can take a"holiday" from caring - what about the person who is being cared for ?

What happens to them in the time that the government is ALLOWING the carer to take time off ?

This is already in the Carers Allowance rules.

I am aware of the 12 week rule - but I was wondering whether Starmer was aware that the person being cared for does not, magically improve enough not to need caring for - during the carers break ?

I am sure he is. What is the point of that statement/question though?

Trying to find out whether the new PM was planning to increase CA to something more meaningful

in Canada - Caregivers allowance is up to $668 per week

US - Its $2803 per month

EU varies around Euros 250 per week

No he's not. It is possible they might taper the cliff edgecut off  as that will please some but the cost would be quite low.

Muttleythefrog

MouldyOldDough said:

MattMattMattUK said:

MouldyOldDough said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

MouldyOldDough said:

Starmer thinks that carers can take a"holiday" from caring - what about the person who is being cared for ?

What happens to them in the time that the government is ALLOWING the carer to take time off ?

This is already in the Carers Allowance rules.

I am aware of the 12 week rule - but I was wondering whether Starmer was aware that the person being cared for does not, magically improve enough not to need caring for - during the carers break ?

I am sure he is. What is the point of that statement/question though?

Trying to find out whether the new PM was planning to increase CA to something more meaningful

in Canada - Caregivers allowance is up to $668 per week

US - Its $2803 per month

EU varies around Euros 250 per week

No plans.... and as advised above... you seem to have misread what you quoted him saying regarding 'holidays'.

sheramber

MouldyOldDough said:

MattMattMattUK said:

MouldyOldDough said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

MouldyOldDough said:

Starmer thinks that carers can take a"holiday" from caring - what about the person who is being cared for ?

What happens to them in the time that the government is ALLOWING the carer to take time off ?

This is already in the Carers Allowance rules.

I am aware of the 12 week rule - but I was wondering whether Starmer was aware that the person being cared for does not, magically improve enough not to need caring for - during the carers break ?

I am sure he is. What is the point of that statement/question though?

Trying to find out whether the new PM was planning to increase CA to something more meaningful

in Canada - Caregivers allowance is up to $668 per week

US - Its $2803 per month

EU varies around Euros 250 per week

Where. Would the money to pay for it come from?