Carers UK is carrying out a three year project looking at some of the challenges that carers in employment can face when claiming Carer’s Allowance. This project is funded by the Lloyds Bank Foundation and it aims to influence national policy and practice in relation to Carer’s Allowance and help make the social security system work better for unpaid carers. In particular, we are keen to influence change in the following areas:
- The way in which the earnings threshold for Carer’s Allowance operates. Some carers face a harsh penalty when unintentionally going over the earnings threshold.
- The way in which carers interact with the Department for Work and Pensions when claiming Carer’s Allowance, particularly in relation to the earnings threshold.
Carers UK is conducting research to:
- Examine the evidence and rationale for change, informed by carers’ lived experiences.
- Develop a stronger evidence base for campaigning on this issue
- Improve information and advice for unpaid carers in relation to claiming Carer’s Allowance
- Develop learning materials and increased awareness amongst local carer.
Gathering our campaign evidence:
We’re gathering carers’ experiences of overpayments in relation to earnings and Carer’s Allowance here. They can be submitted by carers and advisers can add cases anonymously. This is provide evidence of why we need change and how they want to see the system better meet their needs: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CAoverpayment