Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5

Original poster

To wonder if Carers will ever be paid more?

111 replies

croppedhimout · 06/02/2023 21:15

I get less than £70 a week carers allowance for 19/20 hours worth of care every day. It's disgusting

AIBU to wonder if we will ever be paid more? I'd say no because...

Nobody seems outraged at how little carers are paid, not in the media anyway, where it counts

Carers for the most part can't strike.

OP posts:

Cryingcryingcrying · 09/02/2023 17:46

Yes it's an extra £160 compared to just being on UC and not caring or working. However if I wasn't caring I wouldn't be on UC and would be working..

StickyFloor · 09/02/2023 17:48

@Cryingcryingcrying sure, I understand that.

Everyone of us who is caring is giving up the opportunity to earn a decent wage aren't we? Which is so unfair.

StickyFloor · 09/02/2023 18:03

This whole subject makes me particularly angry when I see the money being wasted on care costs because the system is broken. This week we found ourselves in this position:

DD needed emergency respite from an agency who charged a little over £800 for 30 hours. This came out of our LA weekly budget so LA paid it not us. We know that the actual carer received just over £10ph meaning that the LA paid the agency £500 for providing her.

I know agencies have costs etc but it's still effectively the LA contributing directly to their handsome profits whereas individuals doing this work get almost nothing.

The system is broken, utterly broken.

JustKeepBuilding · 09/02/2023 18:08

Another thing is carers in Scotland have supplement payments and carers in Wales had a one off payment. Whereas in England there’s nothing extra.

KatnissNeverdone · 09/02/2023 18:19

DS was awarded Direct Payments for 10 hours a week. Couldn't find a carer for love nor money so the award was suspended and I'm still doing all his care. I'm knackered and my back's in bits despite hoists etc.

StickyFloor · 09/02/2023 18:51

@KatnissNeverdone Have you tried challenging the LA and asking them to pay you? It doesn't help in terms of giving you respite but at least it compensates you.

Sometimes if there is a care need which isn't being fulfilled because of inability to recruit this can be grounds for them paying a family member.

unsync · 09/02/2023 19:26

Don't forget we get our stamp paid. Oh and a Christmas bonus of £10. Once you reach pensionable age, you lose the CA.

SouthCountryGirl · 09/02/2023 20:33

vivainsomnia · 09/02/2023 15:29

The point is that anyone can claim carer allowance for someone getting PIP or DLA, and even though they are supposed to care 35h, the definition of care is very subjective.

For some, what they get claiming CA is a nice added income for providing limited care. For others it is nothing, and really an insult for the hours and demands of the care they provide.

"nice added income"? You can only earn £132 a week on top

Babyroobs · 09/02/2023 20:36

unsync · 09/02/2023 19:26

Don't forget we get our stamp paid. Oh and a Christmas bonus of £10. Once you reach pensionable age, you lose the CA.

You can still get a carers premium on pension credit if you are eligible for that once you reach state retirement age.

KatnissNeverdone · 09/02/2023 20:46

I didn't know that. Definitely something to look into. Thanks.

KatnissNeverdone · 09/02/2023 20:47

Sorry that was for@StickyFloor

Flip

1 2 3 4 5