Welfare bill passes but carers must be put at the heart of future reforms, Carers Trust warns

Responding to the Government winning a vote by MPs on its benefit cuts but pushing back its planned changes to Personal Independence Payments, Carers Trust's Chief Executive, Kirsty McHugh, said:

“Carers Trust remains concerned that the impact on unpaid carers is not being sufficiently factored into Government thinking. More than 4 million people become carers every year, with over 40% forced to give up paid work altogether because of their caring role.

"With social care such a mess in the country, many carers don’t stand a chance of getting a job and future benefit changes risk pushing carers into even deeper poverty. We ask Government to engage with us and our UK-wide network of local carer services to make sure the needs of carers are at the heart of future reforms.”