§ Dr. KumarTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the(a) support and (b) benefits available to carers in each year since 1997. [114316]
§ Maria Eagle"Caring about Carers—A National Strategy for Carers" published in 1999 underlined the Government"s commitment to support carers. Carers are entitled to an assessment by their local council to determine their needs as carers and their eligibility for support. Depending on their individual circumstances, carers have access to the full range of social security benefits including Carer"s Allowance (CA) (previously Invalid Care Allowance) and the Carer Premium in income-related benefits.
The improvements we have made to the support and benefits for carers on top of the annual upratings of benefits include:
The introduction of the Carers" Grant in 1999 to support councils in providing short breaks for carers to enable them to continue to care whilst maintaining their own health and wellbeing;
Strengthening, in 2000, of the right of carers to an assessment of their own needs—local councils were given a mandatory duty to support carers by providing services to carers directly, and in the provision of breaks from caring-and making Direct Payments from local councils available to carers to enable them to purchase carers services themselves1;
Increasing the CA earnings limit increased from £50 to £75 a week in 2001, linking future annual increases to the rise in the National Insurance lower earnings limit, and increasing the carer premium by £10 a week above normal uprating;
1 Resources for social services increased by 20 per cent. in real terms between 1996–97 and 2000–03, an average real terms increase of 3 per cent. a year. In 2001–02 local councils provided 52W help to over 140,000 carers through the adults service and to some 52,000 people (including young carers) through the children"s service.Abolishing the upper age limit on claims to CA in 2002, so that carers aged 65 and over can claim the allowance 2;Extending, in 2002, the entitlement to CA by up to eight weeks after death of disabled person being cared for, and from this year, requiring local councils to make direct payments to carers who have an assessed need and are able to manage them (alone or with assistance), and giving them discretionary powers to support flexibility in provision of short breaks for carers through the short term breaks voucher scheme.
Carers can find out about the support and benefits available to them through various routes: on-line services such as UK Online, or the Government DWP and carers websites; by telephone via benefits helplines, NHS Direct, carers centres, Carers UK helpline; and booklets/leaflets published by the Government or voluntary sector.
2 Overlapping benefit rules apply. Measure benefits carers without state retirement pension, or on a low rate of state retirement pension. Carers on low income have access to carer premium in the income related benefits.