To think very few carers will benefit from the “ increase “ in carers

[Ionlytrymybest]

reading the budget and I can see some carers may benefit
those who can work along side up to the maximum amount allowed of earnings or those with partners who work full time with a wage good enough to not be on UC.

but many full time carers are on universal credit, so the increase in these cases is surely pointless they won’t see an increase in their monthly money at all as it is deducted 1.00 for 1.00 from Universal credit ?

so unless they change the 1.00 for 1.00 deductions it’s not really that big of a change ?

As I said, there’s a lot more that could be done. I just don’t think the change, which is the biggest increase in the earnings limit since the introduction of CA, is only lip service or will only benefit those claimants pp mentioned (which was the point of my post). You obviously disagree, which is, of course, perfectly fine.

Yes your right.

I care for my mum full time. So only getting £81 a week. No pension, no savings. It's a disgusting amount

The way that this is being reported by some of the media makes it sound like Carers Allowance has gone up with the Budget! Just to be clear, it has not gone up! It remains at £81.90 per week for between 35 and 168 hours caring - that is £2.34 to 48p per hour. It will only go up In April together with other work age benefits by 1.7%, which is a whopping increase of £1.39, making it £83.29 a week - that is £2.37 to 49p an hour.

For those thinking 'whatever shall I spend my extra £1.39 on from April?', remember that for those having to rely on Universal Credit, such as many of the 24/7 carers, every single penny of that very slightly increased Carers Allowance will still be taken off.

It is a rise in the earnings limit only.

This is what Carers UK have to say:

'Today the Chancellor, Rt Hon Rachel Reeves MP, delivered Labour’s first budget for 14 years.
Carer’s Allowance earnings limit rise
This is an unprecedented rise in the earnings limit on Carer's Allowance, the main carers' benefit, to the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage. The National Living Wage will go up from £11.44 to £12.21 an hour from April 2025, resulting in one of the biggest increases in the earnings limit since the benefit was first created in 1976. Working carers will now be able to earn £196 per week and claim Carer’s Allowance – an increase of around £45 per week in comparison to the previous earnings threshold of £151. 60,000 more carers will be able to access Carer’s Allowance as a result.
This change is unprecedented, helping thousands of carers to keep a toe in the labour market. It means that carers would be able to earn up to £2,340 per year more, providing much needed cash in the pockets of those who rely on it most. For the first time in decades, carers won’t lose out as the National Living Wage rises. Pegging the earnings threshold to the National Living Wage will end the guessing game for carers – putting an end to the anxiety of reducing working hours to compensate for minimum wage increases.
Carers in poverty
Support via Carer’s Allowance is vital for those who are unable to combine work and care, but it remains the lowest benefit of its kind at just £81.90 per week. Many are struggling with high living costs as a result of high levels of inflation. There are 1.2 million carers living in poverty across the UK who need urgent help. The Government should take urgent steps, including a full review of Carer’s Allowance and other social security benefits available to carers, to tackle the root causes of poverty.'

30 October 2024

Helen Walker, Chief Executive at Carers UK, said:
“It’s fantastic to hear that the Government will increase the earnings threshold for Carer’s Allowance allowing 60,000 more carers juggling work and care to access this benefit. It’s the largest increase in the earnings limit for Carer’s Allowance since it was introduced in 1976.
“Carers working and claiming Carer’s Allowance can now take on additional hours to earn up to £196 per week from April 2025, or over £10,000 a year. This is a vital poverty prevention measure helping many carers, particularly women, stay in the labour market. It will make a noticeable difference for many, and for the first time in decades, carers will not lose out as the National Living Wage rises. It will help to put much needed cash into the pockets of working carers who do so much to look after their disabled, ill and older relatives.
“Many carers are still struggling with their finances whilst providing so much for society. In addition to today’s announcement, we need to see a full review of Carer’s Allowance as the lowest benefit of its kind at only £81.90 per week for providing a minimum of 35 hours of care. 45% of carers receiving Carer’s Allowance are struggling to make ends meet and urgent steps must be taken to further tackle poverty for carers and their families.”

But the thing about all of that is, of the 60,000 people who can now access Carers Allowance, how many will also be claiming Universal Credit - thereby rendering it utterly pointless?

I imagine many of the 60,000 carers who now fall under the limit will also rely on Universal Credit….which means they won’t actually benefit.

To be clear about exactly how many people benefit we’d need far more detailed information. Just looking at who falls within the scope of Carers Allowance doesn’t tell the full story.

Of course, it will help a minority of carers - and that’s great for those that get any benefit from this.

I just think we’re so used to getting precisely fuck all from the Tories that we’re getting excited over breadcrumbs. It’s a very small sticking plaster which leaves many of us still bleeding copiously.

It helps carers who are able to care and also work. They can earn more.

However, some caring responsibility is so huge that there are no free hours to work as well. Those carers care for the most disabled and need more help than £81 per week.

I care for my mum but it's around a couple of hours a day, 7 days a week so I don't claim. Not enough caring hours but I realise some do claim and work alongside.

Some carers spent most of their time caring and have no free time for anything else. I really feel for those carers.

Also the government still thinks carers are only worth, or will be happy with a couple of short days a week at minimum wage. Plenty of us were earning above that before becoming a carer, but no matter. Leave your aspirations at the door, along with your pension and any hope of ever getting out of poverty.