In view of the recent thread have started e-petition on the new rule from 6 April that couples with children will need to do paid work of 24 hours per week rather than the current 16 or lose £4000 in tax credits a year, I feel it is unfair to expect carers of severely disabled children to do exactly the same amount of work as those whose children are not disabled.
Some info:
- The Lib Dems promised to double carers allowance - it will now take £4000 away from these families
- 4 in 10 disabled children already live in poverty
- Carers save the economy on average £15,000 per year. Every hour that a carer looks after a disabled person saves the economy £14.50
- Carers allowance is the lowest paid benefit £2860 per year
- many older disabled children need two parents to manage their needs
- many families contain more than one disabled child
- childcare for disabled children is hard to find and more expensive where it is available, there is almost no before / after school or holiday childcare
- the new rules exclude a parent who is disabled - but how does this situation differ from a parent whose child is so disabled that no childcare is available? Both have equal barriers to work.
Please sign it and share it on any social media. Only need 100,000 signatures to get it debated! No pressure!