Heléna Herklots, Chief Executive
of Carers UK:
“Carers fear finding themselves In the centre of a perfect storm, as, on top of cuts to already overstretched social care services, they may face a combination of cuts to disability benefits, changes to Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit and the introduction of the household benefit cap.
We are shocked and disappointed at the lack of adequate analysis of the impact all these changes will have on carers. There is the real risk that the combined impact will have devastating personal consequences for carers and their families but will also bring greater costs to society and the economy in the longer term. Government should urgently publish full analysis of the impact of their changes to benefits on carers and disabled people, taking account of simultaneous cuts to vital social care support.”
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Carers UK is gathering evidence about the financial costs of caring. They need carers’ stories on the extra living costs they face and the impact on their ability to earn
Full details - https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/carerpanel
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Tags: benefits, carersuk, Pat's Petition, social care, welfare reform
Basically a full time voluntary carer has a income (unless wealthy) of £71 IS and half of the Care allowance. If the carer has to travel to her job it will cost around £30 so the care allowance is gone. The wear and tear for the job can cost up to another £30 a week leaving £41 a wk for heating average £24 a week, water charges average £8 and lowest cost phone £5. Leaving £4 a week for normal household scores and food.
Beside this they are classified by DWP as scroungers.
In 2008 my carer and partner of26 years was not afforded a council home with me he and I moved in together he continued to pay for everything as my ni was short I had no income dispite paying in for 29years on an untreated congenital heart block leaving me as I am today the final nail in the coffin came when he had to pay council tax on our home which was reposed as I couldn’t work we sort help from cab we were deemed as living below the poverty line we were told by dwp that he must give up his job I said no way it was then put in place a rota to assist me amongst family and friends we told our mp what we were being made to do since 2010this is what exists so in no way are carers of any sort scroungers had dwp just stopped his taxes we would have been ok and in 4years this still not sorted hence dwp have to now keep me crazy system