AIBU?
To tell you this is what the Government think of carers, in black and white!
lockedonwhole · 29/09/2022 11:09
Not sure if someone has posted already
This is the government response to the petition about carers being paid better
The Government has responded to the petition you signed – “Increase Carer's Allowance to equal 35hrs at National Minimum Wagee_”.
Government responded:
Carer’s Allowance is a benefit that provides some financial recognition that a carer may not be able to work full-time. It is part of a range of support based on individual needs, rather than a wage.
This Government recognises the very important role that unpaid and family carers make in providing significant care and continuity of support to family and friends on a daily basis.
It is however, important to emphasise that Carer’s Allowance is not intended to be a replacement for a wage nor a payment for the services of caring and is therefore not comparable with either the National Minimum Wage or the National Living Wage. The principal purpose of Carer's Allowance is to provide a measure of financial support and recognition for people who choose to give up the opportunity of full-time work to provide regular care for a severely disabled person. It has never been the role of the Government to pay people for the tasks they undertake, voluntarily, in the way that an employer would, and this Government has no plans to change that principle. Instead, successive Governments have supported carers through allowances and benefits as well as wider cross-government actions.
Unpaid carers are overwhelmingly caring for a family member or friend, rather than someone unknown to them. The amount of unpaid caring they undertake, and its intensity, will differ from carer to carer, as will their reasons and motivation for accepting caring responsibilities. Many can successfully combine caring with some employment, so will continue to have income from paid employment. Those unpaid carers who do need financial support may be able to get help from the benefits system – and not only from Carer’s Allowance, but from a range of means-tested benefits as well.
Carers on low incomes can claim income-related benefits, such as Universal Credit, alongside Carer’s Allowance. Universal Credit can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities through the payment of the carer element. In April 2022, the Universal Credit carer element increased to £168.81 per month. Around 405,000 (Feb 22 data) carer households on Universal Credit can receive around an additional £2,000 a year through the carer element.
Real terms expenditure on Carer’s Allowance in 2022/23 is forecast to be £3.4bn and between 2022/23 and 2026/27 real terms expenditure on CA is forecast to increase by just over a third (around £1.2 billion). By 2026/27, the Government is forecast to spend just under £4.5 billion a year on Carer’s Allowance.
A National Insurance Class 1 credit is generally awarded for each week that Carer’s Allowance is paid to a working-age carer. Class 1 credits can help towards the conditions of entitlement to all contributory benefits, as well as the new State Pension. Receipt of Carer’s Allowance also exempts the carer from the benefit cap.
Carer’s Allowance permits carers to undertake some part-time work if they can do so, without this affecting their entitlement. The earnings limit recognises the benefits of staying in touch with the workplace, including greater financial independence and social interaction.
The Government consulted on proposals for a new entitlement to carer’s leave in 2020 and published its response in September 2021. This committed to introducing carer’s leave as a day 1 right. This will be available to all employees who are providing care for a dependant with a long-term care need. Eligible employees will be entitled to one week of unpaid leave per year, which will be available to take flexibly in individual or half days.
Department for Work and Pensions
Click this link to view the response online:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/617874?reveal_response=yess_
bicyclesaredeathtraps · 29/09/2022 11:12
What really rankled about that was the "choose to give up the opportunity of paid work" line. As if they're providing sufficient social care for disabled people to be looked after by paid carers if we chose! It's not a choice, it's a necessity for many.
Outnumbered99 · 29/09/2022 11:15
I don't remember "choosing to give up the opportunity of paid work" when my profoundly disabled child was born, I must have missed that meeting
PandaBearBear · 29/09/2022 11:17
I'm slightly ignorant on this subject as my only knowledge is from a good friend of mine with a disabled teenager - but I'm confused by their use of the word 'choose'. What other choices are there for someone with a child who will need life long care?
lockedonwhole · 29/09/2022 11:17
bicyclesaredeathtraps · 29/09/2022 11:12
What really rankled about that was the "choose to give up the opportunity of paid work" line. As if they're providing sufficient social care for disabled people to be looked after by paid carers if we chose! It's not a choice, it's a necessity for many.
I had tears in my eyes reading that when the email came through.
My son sleeps 3 hours max a night and needs 24/7 supervision. School holidays mens I survive on less than 3 hours sleep a day for weeks at a time sometimes.
I need the school day to sleep. Who knows what Will happen when he eventually finishes school.
I'm on the bones of my arse, I can't work. I am caring
I'd like to see what would happen if I said no more. What if all the carers did that? They'd be forking out billions in social care. Oh but wait, they won't! Because we couldn't do that - we have compassion and a lot of love and a sense of duty to the vulnerable
Argh
And this isn't even news 
this awful awful response isn't even making headlines. Nobody cares.
Alltheprettyseahorses · 29/09/2022 11:18
I didn't choose to give up work to look after an older housebound disabled relative - I had to.
Samcro · 29/09/2022 11:32
bicyclesaredeathtraps · 29/09/2022 11:12
What really rankled about that was the "choose to give up the opportunity of paid work" line. As if they're providing sufficient social care for disabled people to be looked after by paid carers if we chose! It's not a choice, it's a necessity for many.
this
SafferUpNorth · 29/09/2022 11:38
That's really sickening. Just more proof, if we needed it, that this government have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA of the many challenges - and lack of real choices - that ordinary people live with in this country.... nor do they have any desire to find out and understand.
They bang on about choice, but that mostly available only to those with pots of savings. A parent with a severely disabled child HAS NO CHOICE.. there is nowhere near enough funded / affordable care support.
DrinkFeckArseBrick · 29/09/2022 11:43
It's disgusting. It doesn't affect me at all but I'm so angry on behalf of people that are affected - I dont want to live in a country where we dont take any care of our most vulnerable and we just leave those that have to do so, to it. For it to be a valid choice to care for someone there would have to be a valid alternative
DeadButDelicious · 29/09/2022 11:43
I gave 10 years of my life to look after elderly and seriously ill relatives. Ten years I won't get back. If there had been any other choice during that time, any possible alternative, we would have taken it. I didn't 'choose' any of it. Why would I? It's had very real knock on effects. I did it out of love, out of necessity and out of duty. That statement is an insult to carers and shows exactly what the government think of those who have no other option but to care for family members.
lockedonwhole · 29/09/2022 11:49
I'm just still so shocked
How can they use such inflammatory language? They haven't even bothered to dress it up!
They've blatantly kicked us in the face and said 'well you chose to do it'
SpinningFloppa · 29/09/2022 11:51
This has really annoyed me as it wasn’t a choice, I was still made to attend work focused interviews anyway despite being a full time Carer so it’s clear what the feelings are on it.
RocketPanda · 29/09/2022 11:53
That's a disgusting response. They know that carers won't abandon their loved one so they can treat them in any way they want. Carers know that there's fuck all help/ therapies/ respite places available so if they depend on the state for care their loved one will die.
I'm not saying in Ireland it's perfect and carers are still paid way below what they deserve but my DSis gets around €250 ( I don't know the exact figure) per week, plus €300 per month. She also gets a grant in the summer for €1850. A long way to go yet for a decent recognition for the 24/7 work she does.
lannistunut · 29/09/2022 11:53
Yeah, this government is disgusting. Full time carers save the taxpayer a fortune, and it really isn't a choice as good care cannot be found anyway.
Really sorry for everyone receiving this terrible response.
Suzi888 · 29/09/2022 11:54
@PandaBearBear there are housing complexes that provide full time care and support. I would imagine like a nursing home does.
RocketPanda · 29/09/2022 11:56
A skeptical part me has come to the conclusion that because the majority of carers are women and girls the government see it as their role. Misogyny in action.
ClaryFairchild · 29/09/2022 11:57
Fuck me, how bloody dare they?! My DSis cared for my DM for many years in Australia and was paid the same amount as the pension.
35965a · 29/09/2022 11:58
I am also baffled as to why they think being a carer is a choice? Unbelievable.
Thesearmsofmine · 29/09/2022 12:02
This government are just awful. A bloody choice fgs. There is no alternative unless you think people should leave their loved ones to suffer/die.
MarshaMelrose · 29/09/2022 12:05
I disagree. I care for my mum. I've had to cut back on my work because it's difficult to do both. But I could put her in a home or increase the amount of carers she has. But I don't think she'd be happy in a home yet and she doesn't like having carers in the house. So I fill that need. I wouldn't do that for my 91yo friend who lives opposite me. I do it for my mum because she's my family and I want to. It's my choice.
My mum is not entitled UC or anything like that. We're working through what savings she has.
SerendipityJane · 29/09/2022 12:07
I wasn't aware the government gave any thought to carers whatsoever.
Nothing here has changed my mind.
RainbowZebraWarrior · 29/09/2022 12:07
It says "a carer may not be able to work full time" i didn't think you were allowed ri work at all in order to qualify for carers allowance? When I looked into it, my Dad wasn't allowed to claim it as he's retired, and that is considered an income. (he's been caring for my Mum with cancer for 2.5 years)
The whole thing is a fucking disgrace.
Like PIP, there should at least be levels.
Getoff · 29/09/2022 12:10
35965a · 29/09/2022 11:58
I am also baffled as to why they think being a carer is a choice? Unbelievable.
If you didn't do it, would you be arrested? I suppose the answer could be yes, for child neglect if it was your child. Is there a legal option to give up responsibility for a child?
With regard to adults who need care, who cares for those who don't have family willing to do it? Presumably there are least theoretically paid people who would do it, allowing the government to view family care as "voluntary."
OneInEight · 29/09/2022 12:15
Personally I would use the word forced rather than chose with respect to most carers.
Abaiia · 29/09/2022 12:15
What a disgusting response. No, I'm not choosing to look after my child / elderly parents. They live in my house, they are my family, I cannot abandon them. They ARE my full time job ffs.
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