PMQs: Truss refuses to increase support for carers

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In answer to a question from Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey at Prime Minister’s Questions today, Liz Truss refused to commit to raising Carer’s Allowance and other benefits at least in line with inflation.

In April, the Government increased Carer’s Allowance by just 3.1% from £67.60 a week to £69.70 – giving carers only an extra 30p a day. With inflation now at 10.1%, it means Carer’s Allowance is 6.4% lower in real terms compared to last year.

That amounts to a real-terms cut for carers of £4.73 a week, or £123 over the next six months. 930,000 carers across the country receiving Carer’s Allowance are therefore losing out on a combined £114 million this winter.

A new report by Carers UK has found that 40% of people on Carer’s Allowance are in debt, and 35% are cutting back on food and heating.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said:

“Struggling families and carers mustn’t be the victims of this Conservative Government’s reckless economic mismanagement.

“Millions of people are already being forced to cut back on food and heating, and millions are making huge sacrifices to look after their loved ones. They are now facing a terrifying winter of cold and hunger.

“Carer’s Allowance isn’t enough as it is. The Conservatives mustn’t inflict even more pain on family carers by cutting it in real terms.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

Full text of Ed Davey’s question to the Prime Minister:

Mr Speaker, millions of family carers have been forced to cut back on food and heating. One told Carers UK: ‘My son is incontinent... if we don’t wash him in warm water several times a day this will cause him to physically decline. So how do we pay for the gas to heat the water if we are currently at max budget?’

Vulnerable people and carers are struggling enough already in this cost-of-living crisis, Mr Speaker. So will the Prime Minister guarantee that support for the vulnerable – including Carer’s Allowance – will rise by at least today’s inflation rate of 10.1%?"

The Carers UK report ‘Heading for crisis: Caught between caring and rising costs’ is available here.