Carer’s Allowance: DWP to respond after pressure to increase benefit to £239 mounts | Personal Finance | Finance

The petition, created and posted by Emma Roberts, wants the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) payment to increase in order to “reflect the work carers do”. Posted on the petitions-parliament website, it highlighted that as of April 2022, carers in the UK are earning around £1.99 per hour for the minimum of 35 hours a week they need to work before being able to claim. 

The petition highlighted that this is considerably less than the National Minimum wage for 18-year-olds which is currently £6.83.

The increase to £239.05 a week would match the minimum wage an 18 year old receives.

This would give carers an annual income of above £12,000.

Three days ago the petition had garnered around 4,000 signatures.

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It has now reached above the 10,000 threshold, with 12,815 signatures as of writing, for the DWP to issue a response.

However, the petition will need to reach 100,000 signatures to have it considered for debate in parliament. 

Due to the requirement to care for someone for 35 hours a week, it often means that carers are unable to get full-time work and can only work part-time in the majority of circumstances. 

The petition also highlighted that Carer’s Allowance is treated as ”taxable income” and is usually deducted from the other benefits someone may receive.

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The petition closes on December 8, 2022, can be viewed on the petitions-parliament website.

Currently in the UK, to claim Carer’s Allowance people need to be caring for a person for at least 35 hours a week, be over the age of 16 years, and must not be earning more than £132 a week. This is after tax, National Insurance, and expenses.

It is usually paid every four weeks so people usually get a payment of £278.80 per payment period. This equates to £3,600 annually.

The person cared for must also be claiming at least one of the “qualifying benefits” in order to be eligible for the support. 

These include Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Disablement Benefit Armed Forces Independence Payment, and Child/Adult Disability Payment.

The type of care that is classed as “caring for someone” includes tasks such as helping with washing and cooking, taking the person being cared for to a doctor’s appointment or helping with household tasks, like managing bills and shopping.

If a person shares the caring duties with someone else, only one of them can claim Carer’s Allowance.

People can also only claim Carer’s Allowance once, even if they are providing care for multiple people.

Express.co.uk has contacted the DWP asking for comment.