§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when he intends to review the earnings limit on carers in receipt of Invalid Care Allowance. [146723]
§ Mr. BayleyWe have reviewed the Invalid Care Allowance earnings limit and an announcement was made on 3 October 2000 of our intention to increase it to the rate of the lower earnings limit from April 2001. We will lay regulations in due course which will enable this measure to be introduced.
§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the impact of the earnings limit on home carers in receipt of Invalid Care Allowance. [146736]
§ Mr. BayleyOne of the issues which arose in the course of the recent review of financial support for carers was the difficulty some carers experienced in combining caring with employment because of the Invalid Care Allowance earnings limit which has remained at £50 (after allowable expenses) since 1993.
The proposed increase in the earnings limit to the level of the lower earnings limit (£72 a week from April 2001), announced on 3 October 2000, will therefore allow those carers to earn substantially more while retaining their entitlement to Invalid Care Allowance.