Real change not short change

A radical transformation of carer benefits and other financial support
 

The problem

Caring can have a devastating impact on carers’ finances. One in five carers is forced to give up work, losing on average £11,000 in income.

Carers are being short changed by an outdated benefits system that doesn’t recognise their contribution to society. The main benefit for carers - Carer's Allowance - is just £50 a week – the lowest of its kind. Unfair rules act as a disincentive for carers who are able to work, while some, including those over 65 or sick, miss out on carers’ benefits altogether.

What we want

Carers UK’s Real change not short change campaign is calling on the Government to radically reform the tax and benefit system so that it is

• Based on the contribution carers make, rather than on the work/income they have to give up.
• Transparent and fair to all carers.
• Easy to access and unbureaucratic.
  

Specifically we want

Specifically we are calling for Carer’s Allowance to be changed to a two tier benefit for all carers providing 35 hours per week, irrespective of age and raised to the level of the State Pension (currently £87.30). It would have

• A higher level for carers who cannot work.
• Flexibility to recognise the different circumstances of carers and the impact that caring can have on people’s lives. This includes the hours spent caring and the number of people being cared for.
• Financial incentives that help carers combine work and care.
• Removal of restrictions on the hours carers can study.

What has the campaign done so far?

• In May 2007 published hard evidence of the impact caring has on your finances
• In November 2007 a delegation of carers delivered over 8,000 of your messages to Number 10 Downing Street.
• Your support has already helped achieve the first objective of our campaign – to convince Government to carry out a review of carer benefits. This is now underway and we expect the Government to publish its proposals in the spring as part of its National Strategy for Carers.

Our judgement of its success will be based on what carers have told us they want to see changed - a radical overhaul of carers’ benefits and income with significant in investment by Government.

This campaign has seen thousands of carers deliver their messages to Government about how they feel short changed. Now it's time for the Government to deliver real change for carers.