§ Mr. McGradyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make it his policy to pay the carers premium on the basis of caring responsibilities regardless of age.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe carer premium was introduced in October 1990 in the relevant income-related benefits on top of all other premiums, primarily to provide extra benefit to people of working age who are unable to work or whose employment is restricted because they care for a severely disabled person. It goes to carers who can establish entitlement to invalid care allowance.
A person over pension age who commences caring for another cannot establish entitlement to invalid care 85W allowance. A person who has established entitlement to invalid care allowance and the carer premium before reaching pension age retains the carer premium beyond pension age, in recognition of the limitations on employment caused by the caring role. We have no plans to change these arrangements.