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Main Content: Carers discuss benefits with top civil servants
Last week six carers and Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK, met Sir Leigh Lewis, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions, Terry Moran, Chief Executive of the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service and Jeremy Groombridge, Director of Policy at Jobcentre Plus, to talk about carers' experiences of using the benefits system.
The carers travelled from across England to talk about some of the issues raised by a National Audit Office report which found that carers simply don’t know which benefits to claim and that when they do come to claim, they find the forms difficult to fill in and hard to understand. They also talked what it was like caring for someone, the tough job that it entails both emotionally and physically, and that they needed a benefits system that was easier to use.
The carers stressed that most carers wanted to work, but that some found it extremely difficult because of their caring situation, because they could not find or afford the right time of care or because the benefits system put barriers in their way.
The carers told the officials that they didn’t have a choice about caring, but that they did so out of love and a sense of duty. What they wanted from the system was more understanding. They suggested benefits advisers could be better trained to understand caring better. With that kind of support, they felt that carers would have better experiences of the system. They felt that this was extremely important whichever part of the benefits system they interacted with, but particularly with Jobcentre Plus.
Sir Leigh is due to appear before the Public Accounts Committee to respond to MP’s questions about the National Audit Office report into the support for carers.
Carers UK believes the benefit and system needs to be easier for carers to access and has called for:
- better information
- a study into the take-up rates of carers’ benefits
- better training and guidance for benefits advisers, particularly those in Jobcentre Plus
Carers UK also campaigned for better support and recognition for carers within Jobcentre Plus and our proposals were taken on board as part of the National Carers Strategy published last year in June. This pledged £38 million investment and included the recruitment of Care Partnership Managers (due to be in place by the Autumn of this year), who will help to improve carers’ experiences of Jobcentre Plus locally by helping to improve links between local Jobcentres, social services, local support organisations and care agencies. The funding will also go towards helping carers attending training and learning opportunities so that they can return to work if they wish.
Lynda Wisbach, Trustee of Carers UK accompanied by Joyce Rooney; Tony Dennis; Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK; Kerry Osborne; Sue Hudsperth; Christine Steele; Jill Pay and Dawn Walker-Gerrard meet Sir Leigh Lewis.