MPs' Committee wants more help for carers

The House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee has published its report 'Valuing and Supporting Carers', it includes a number of recommendations aimed at providing additional support for the nearly six6 million men and women who provide carers support with a total estimated value of over £87 billion per year.

Recognising that carers are found amongst men and women of all ages records the fact that the peak age for caring is in the 45-69 age bracket with 17% of all men and 24% of all women being carers in the 50-59 age group. Among young people, over 165,000 aged 18 and under were carers in 2001 with 80% of them being in the 12-18 age group and 85% of the providing between one and nineteen hours of care per week.

The report recognises that one in five carers gives up work to look after a family member, friend or neighbour and recent research by Carers UK found that carers had lost out on a average of £11,000 per year as a result of wither giving up work, reducing their hours or taking a more junior position. In evidence to the community the National Tistic Society pointed our that at £55 per week the Carers Allowance and the minimum qualifying level of £35 hours a week is equivalent to £1.44 an hour compared to a minimum wage of £5.52.

The report goes on to identify the other circumstances which prevent carers finding a route out of the poverty which usually accompanies the role through increased earnings or training. Consequently the committee argues that Carer Support Allowance should be paid at the same rate as Job Seekers Allowance which would increase the income available to carers by £450 per year.