The Queen's speech - Carers UK response

Pensions Bill

The Bill will introduce changes to the state pension. The reforms will see the state pension age raised to 67 and the basic state pension linked with earnings. It will also reduce the number of years of contributions required for a full basic state pension to 30, which will help many women and carers who may have had periods when they have not been in paid work.

It will also introduce the ‘carer credit’ for people caring for more than 20 hours per week who are currently losing out on entitlement towards their state pension. This means that for people caring for 20 hours per week or more, their national insurance contribution record is the same as someone who is in paid work.

Carers UK position: Carers UK welcomes the general direction of reform which should enable carers to build up entitlements to a decent state pension. This is important recognition that puts the activity of caring on a par with paid work. The proposed ‘carer credit’ should help 70,000 carers gain a credit towards their basic state pension and 160,000 accrue entitlements to the state second pension.

However, 50,000 carers will still lose out because under current proposals only those caring for someone claiming middle/higher rate DLA would be eligible. Carers UK have suggested that a doctor or social worker should be able to certify that the carer is looking after someone for 20 hours each week, or alternatively that if the cared for person receives lower rate DLA or incapacity benefit the carer should also qualify. Carers UK will be lobbying Government to ensure that the Bill helps as many carers as possible to build up a decent pension.

To view the Carers UK response to the Pensions White Paper click here.

Welfare Reform Bill

This Bill, carried over from the last session of parliament, will replace Incapacity Benefit with a new Employment and Support Allowance. It will also introduce tailored support to assess people’s ability to work and help them find appropriate work. There will be two levels of benefit – one for people undertaking work-related activity (such as interviews with a personal adviser) and a higher rate for those with a more severe illness or disability.

Carers UK position: Carers UK has told Government that it needs to be sensitive to the needs of carers who are claiming incapacity benefit, and must recognise that their caring responsibilities will make it more diffifcult for them to plan how they might return to work. In particular, carers need flexibility and support to enable them to attend interviews and follow an agreed action plan, including assistance with finding and paying for alternative care. Carers UK will be working with the Disability Rights Commission and other organisations to ensure that the needs of carers who are claiming incapacity benefit are recognised.

To view the Carers UK response to the Welfare Reform Green Paper click here.

Local Government Bill

This Bill follows the Local Government White Paper which was published in October. The Bill is intended to give more control to local authorities and to give local politicians more power to respond to local concerns. It will also introduce a simpler performance framework and improve cooperation between local bodies.

Carers UK position: Carers UK will be lobbying to ensure that social care services are recognised as crucial local government services and placed at the heart of the reforms. We will also be hoping to ensure that service users and carers have real opportunities to shape local services and priorities.

Concessionary Bus Travel Bill

This Bill will give pensioners and disabled people in England free off-peak bus travel anywhere in the country. Disabled bus passengers and those aged over 60 will get free travel from 9.30am to 11pm Monday to Saturday, and all day on Sundays and Bank Holidays. At the moment, pensioners and disabled people are only entitled to free bus travel within their local authority area. A similar scheme to the England-wide free travel pledge already exists in Wales.

Carers UK position: This Bill will allow Carers UK to highlight the challenges many carers face in accessing public transport. Carers UK will be exploring whether this pledge can be extended to carers and suggesting that local authorities extend free travel to carers, as some already do.