Please could MNHQ consider a campaign around Carers Allowance?

[FoxyTheFox]

Thread in AIBU here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4099176-To-think-the-disgrace-that-is-Carers-Allowance-should-be-a-national-scandal

Caring is an issue that disproportionately affects women as the majority of unpaid carers are female and are providing care to family members, often more than one. The low rates of Carers Allowance as well as the knock-on effects on career and earning potential, physical and mental health, and long term security place them - and by extension the person/people they care for - at a significant disadvantage.

The government have increased other benefits during the pandemic - Universal Credit has gone up by £20 a week, free school meals extended, etc - but has not extended this to Carers (more info in the thread linked above).

@MNHQ ran a campaign years ago on This Is My Child around life caring for a disabled child, could this be run as a follow-up campaign?

I would wholeheartedly support this (and think it may go some way to make up for the refusal by MN to acknowledge Carer's Week this year!). Things have worsened significantly since "This is My Child" and disablism is very much on the increase. Several very upsetting comments on that thread showed the blatant scepticism, ignorance and lack of societal support out there for carers and those they look after.

Carers are working for the government and should be treated as employees in more than NI contributions. The forced poverty via earning thresholds etc is abhorrent. The pandemic related recognition that unpaid carers are in fact keyworkers and vital to society is a starting point that needs picked up and given momentum.

Caring is also something that disproportionately affects women, who then feel the effects.