Carers UK has received a letter from Minister Ivan Lewis MP seeking carers views on the future of care and support.

An influential committee of MPs have today published a report on the support available to carers. Carers UK has welcomed their call for replacement of the current 'outdated' carers' benefits.

Carers UK is backing carer Helen Coughlan's fight to obtain the care package her disabled brother desperately needs, but which is being drastically reduced by her local Primary Care Trust in Redbridge, Surrey.

Carers can't wait. That was the message coming loud and clear from a series of meetings attended by hundreds of the UK's carers in July 2008.

Carers Wales has been pushing the Welsh Assembly Government and Assembly Members to introduce new Welsh legislation to promote equality and wellbeing for carers. Yesterday the First Minister, Rhodri Morgan AM, confirmed that the government would be seeking powers "to provide support for carers by placing appropriate duties on public sector organisations". The LCO put forward earlier in the year by Helen Mary Jones AM and which received unanimous support in the Assembly, will provide a platform for the full government proposal.

Carers UK is delighted that USDAW is calling for radical reform of Carer’s Allowance. Caring can have a devastating impact on carers’ finances and one in five carers is forced to give up work, losing on average £11,000 in income.

Employers for Carers is launching today (Thursday 12th June) as a new national membership forum offering a range of support from information on good practice to training and consultancy.

 

On June 10th 2008 the Government published its National Strategy for Carers. The document is called "Carers at the heart of 21st century families and communities" and it includes a set of commitments and a ten year vision for what support for carers should be like by 2018.

Carers across the country could be putting their own health at risk by ignoring symptoms or not finding the time to visit their own GP for help and advice. The results of a new nationwide survey of 2,000 carers - reveal that more than three-quarters of those questioned (77%) feel that their health is worse as a result of the strain of caring (for many, up to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week).

Following lobbying by Carers UK, the Government has agreed to amend a new bill to ensure carers are listened to. The Health and Social Care Bill will create a new Care Quality Commission and the amendments will ensure it has regard to carers' views and consults them alongside service users.

 

Caring with Confidence, a new programme which will help carers make a positive difference to their life, and that of the person they care for, has today been unveiled.

Rising care charges are putting older and disabled people at risk of not being able to afford to eat, heat their homes, wash or get essential support, says a new report published today (4 June) by the Coalition on Charging.

 

National "Meeting Tomorrow's Challenges" conference looks at how the latest telecare and telehealth technology supports integrated, person-centred care.

Carers UK is carrying out a survey to find out what carers think about direct payments.

Carers face a daily struggle between working and caring. New survey shows nearly half of those caring for an older relative or dependent agree that it is not possible to combine being a carer with a career.

Responding to today's launch of an intense six month debate about the future shape of care and support services, Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK, says: "Carers UK welcomes this major national debate in advance of the forthcoming Green Paper on the future of care and support, including the Prime Minister's personal interest in this crucial issue.

 

Carers of sick and disabled people have won their battle to keep a question on caring in the 2011 census. Treasury Minister Angela Eagle has today confirmed that money has been made available for an extra page of questions that had been under threat.

With Council Tax bills for 2008 about to issued Carers UK is urging carers to make sure they are paying the correct amount. It is not widely publicised but some carers could qualify for up to 50% off their council tax bills.

Carers UK welcomes and congratulates the success of the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign in securing new legal duties on local authorities to help parents caring for disabled children by giving them breaks from their caring responsibilities.

Carers UK has welcomed the announcement of an inquiry into the Department for Work and Pensions' approach to carers, which will cover information and advice, income and benefits, employment and training, equality and recognition.