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c/o Council for Disabled Children
National Children's Bureau
8 Wakley Street
London EC1V 7QE
tel +44 (0)20 7843 6318
fax +44 (0)20 7843 6313
[email protected]
Welfare reform proposals recognise carer's unique role
12 December 2008
The Welfare Reform White Paper published by government this week (10 December) confirmed that the government will not move carers claiming Income Support onto a modified version of Jobseeker’s Allowance ‘until we have a clear and detailed plan setting out how we will make changes to carer’s benefits.’
The government’s position reflects the views of Professor Paul Gregg, advisor on welfare reform, who has said that carers should be seen as different to other benefit claimants. He has called on the Government to find ways to give carers better recognition of their role.
The White Paper reaffirms government support for the principle that people entitled to Carer’s Allowance or Carer Premium should not be expected to engage in back to work activity, unless they volunteer to do so. Carers are placed in a ‘no conditionality’ group alongside those with severe disability or lone parents with very young children.
EDCM Board Member Brian Lamb says:
‘Whilst EDCM welcomes this development, we will be seeking reassurance from Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell, that any changes to the benefits system relating to carers includes parents of disabled children, and that this is made explicit.’
Furthermore, EDCM will be reminding the Secretary of State of the government’s commitment its December 2007 paper, ‘Ready for work: full employment in our generation’, that lone parents of disabled children in receipt of Disability Living Allowance at the middle or higher rate care component would not lose their entitlement to Income Support. This is important because many parents of disabled children are unaware of their entitlement to Carer’s Allowance.
Download the White Paper Raising Expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future.
More from EDCM
Find out more about EDCM’s work on welfare reform
Find out more about EDCM’s work on child poverty
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