Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: 

“We are pleased to see the Select Committee’s report stress the negative impact the proposals in the Pathways to Work Green Paper would have had on disabled people and unpaid carers, specifically in relation to tightening the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payment. PIP is a key gateway benefit for the main carers benefit- Carer’s Allowance.  

“We also welcome the Committee’s calls for changes to Universal Credit health element (included in the final Universal Credit Bill which has just passed in the House of Lords) to be delayed, until the Government has properly assessed the impact they would have on poverty rates, people’s health and labour market participation. If the wider impact is not carefully assessed, it could push more people with disabilities and health conditions, as well as the unpaid carers who support them, into poverty. 1.2 million unpaid carers are living in poverty as a result of caring. 

“The report also stresses the importance of ensuring there is clear engagement with disabled people as the Timms Review into PIP progresses. We are clear that this must also include unpaid carers, which the Government committed to during the passage of the Universal Credit Bill on 22 July.”