Carers UK is delighted to hear that it will receive £150,000 from the Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales over a three-year period.
The new grant, part of an announcement gifting £2.4 million to 18 different charities and partnerships, will be used to influence national policy and practice around the main carer’s benefit, Carer’s Allowance.
Through the project, Carers UK aims to reduce the number of carers who face overpayments by unintentionally going over the earnings threshold for Carer’s Allowance and being subject to debt recovery.
This includes campaigning to change the way that the earnings threshold for Carer’s Allowance operates and seeking to modernise Carer’s Allowance claimants’ interaction with the Department of Work and Pensions.
This year a new report from Carers UK found that carers in receipt of Carer’s Allowance are more likely to be struggling to make ends meet, with 71% of carers receiving Carer’s Allowance saying they were worried about living costs and whether they can manage in the future.
Emily Holzhausen OBE, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, said:
“Carer’s Allowance is the lowest benefit of its kind at only £76.75 per week for providing a minimum of 35 hours care and is in dire need of modernisation and improvement.
"The cost of living crisis has placed families under increasing pressure to take work where they can to earn a little more, but an inflexible and strict earnings limit hinders a carer's ability to work extra hours to make ends meet. Worst still, carers who go even 1p over the earnings limit have to pay back 100% of their Carer’s Allowance, a harsh penalty for people already under significant stress.
“This is a pressing issue, and we regularly hear examples of carers who are struggling due to this situation with some left with thousands of pounds in debt to the DWP. With a forthcoming election next year, we are excited to take this issue forwards thanks to this new funding from the Lloyds Bank Foundation - building on advice we have already provided to the Government to develop a high-profile, sustained campaign for change.”