Thank you for contacting me about Carers' Allowance and the Change.org petition.
I greatly sympathise with the challenges that many carers are facing with the cost of living. Carer’s Allowance was increased earlier this year by 10.1 per cent, in line with inflation, from £69.70 to £76.75 per week. However, there are no plans to increase the rate of Carer’s Allowance further at this point.
The primary purpose of Carer's Allowance is to provide a measure of financial support for people who give up the opportunity of full-time employment in order to care for a severely disabled person. It must be stressed that it is not a carer’s wage or payment for the services of caring, nor is it intended to replace lost or forgone earnings in their entirety.
I would encourage carers to check their eligibility for additional support, such as Universal Credit. Universal Credit can include an additional amount for carers who provide care of 35 hours or more each week for a severely disabled person. For carers who satisfy the qualifying criteria, an additional amount of £185.86 per month is included in their Universal Credit entitlement.
Any constituent who has specific concerns or needs in relation to this issue and who feels I might be able to help should contact my office to discuss raising such individual issues as an individual case.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Craig Whittaker MP
September 2023