Government's benefit cuts will have devastating effect on unpaid carers and those they look after
Responding to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, Carers Trust’s CEO, Kirsty McHugh, said:
“We’re dismayed that the Government is pushing through benefit cuts in way that is going to make life even tougher for unpaid carers.
"The 13-week buffer period before people have their Personal Independence Payments (PIP) removed will go nowhere near compensating for the financial devastation hundreds of thousands of households will face.
“Due to these cuts, at least 150,000 carers will lose their Carer’s Allowance. Nearly 100,000 carers who receive both PIP and Carer’s Allowance will lose their disability benefit.
"Carers are already at increased risk of poverty and this could push many over the edge. We urge the Government to think again and develop mitigations that will help carers instead of punishing them.”