Tough times for carers
Chancellor Alistair Darling clearly faced the toughest financial challenge of his political career as he stood up to deliver his budget (22nd April 2009).
Addressing the worst economic crisis in modern history, many anticipated swinging cuts in public expenditure and investment alongside massive tax increases for the already hard-pressed UK tax payers.
But, on the day when hundreds of carers from across the country joined the Carers Poverty Protest Group and gathered outside Downing Street to call for greater recognition of carers and to address the inadequate £53.10 Carer's Allowance, the Chancellor clearly had other things on his mind.
There was scant consolation for struggling carers, with only a passing recognition of grandparent carers who from 2011 will now receive pension credits if they care for family members aged 12 years or younger for 20 hours or more per week.
The Chancellor noted: "Increasingly grandparents play a big role in family life and in looking after their grandchildren. To reflect this, we will, for the first time, ensure these caring responsibilities for grandparents of working age will count towards their entitlement for the basic state pension."
In addition, the Chancellor announced that disabled and severely disabled children will receive £100 and £200 respectively in their Child Trust Fund account from April 2010 and that some carers may benefit from the additional £125 million for 2009-10 and £145m for 2010-11 which will be given to the Social Fund, which provides grants and loans for people on low incomes.
The Chancellor also reiterated his commitment in the 2008 Pre-Budget Report to The Saving Gateway Accounts Bill, which is currently before Parliament and has been amended to extend eligibility to recipients of the Carer’s Allowance. Through the scheme, the Government will contribute 50 pence for each pound saved, but for many carers, such a scheme remains beyond their means.
Essentially, there is no change for short-changed carers. Those carers who train for more than 20 hours a week to learn new skills or get back to work will still not be eligible for Carer’s Allowance. Carers will still struggle to access support and respite services as money intended for those purposes fails to reach the front line.
Carole Cochrane, Chief Executive of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers said: "Carers will continue to provide the majority of care and support in this country and receive little in return. The Government obviously has some tough choices to make but they do have choices. This year the Government will spend £594bn and next year it will be £628bn. The Government has the money to ensure that carers get proper support, regular respite breaks and the chance to combine work and care. Getting this right could result in carers contributing even more to the NHS whilst being less likely to move from being tax payers to surviving on benefits.”
“The Government announced that the Green Paper on reforming social care will be published in June. It is imperative that the current economic downturn is not used to excuse a reduction in support for social care which would have a catastrophic impact on those who are disabled, seriously ill or elderly, leaving even more expected of carers already at breaking point.”
Given the economic challenges that lie ahead, it is clear that carers will continue to struggle against the odds.
Published: 23 April 2009