Government backs down over Jobseeker’s Allowance plan

This proposal had been floated in the Green Paper ‘No one written off’ but in a White Paper published today the Government acknowledged concerns from carers that this is not an appropriate benefit for carers. The White Paper, entitled ‘Raising expectation and increasing support’, goes on to say “we have amended our proposal and will not move carers from Income Support until we have a clear and detailed plan setting out how we will reform the benefits system over the longer term”.

Carers Scotland and Carers UK had vigorously opposed this proposal arguing that it was confusing and insulting to carers when they are not unemployed and would not be required to look for paid work.

Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:

“We welcome the fact that Government has listened to carers and revised its proposal. Moving carers to Jobseeker’s Allowance would have been misleading and insulting. Ministers talk about everyone doing something in return for their benefits, but carers are already working unpaid and making contribution worth £87 billion.

But changing this policy does not mean that Government should do nothing. We need an urgent and radical overhaul of carers’ benefits. Carer’s Allowance is just £50.55 per week and we know that carers are finding it hard to make ends meet during the current economic downturn. Three quarters of carers are struggling to pay essential bills and more than half are in debt. Many want to work but can’t because of a lack of flexible and affordable care services.

We cannot wait for Government reforms to welfare and social care to be completed before tackling carers’ benefits. We therefore call on Government to publish an immediate plan and timetable setting out how it is going to achieve its 2018 vision that no carer falls into financial hardship due to their caring role, as promised in the National Carers Strategy.” 

Speaking at the launch event, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions James Purnell said that he wanted more debate about how carers might fit into a single benefit for all working age people. 

The White Paper reaffirms Government support for the principle that people entitled to Carer’s Allowance or Carer Premium should not be expected to engage in back to work activity, unless they volunteer to do so. This principle was set out in the report ‘Realising potential: a vision for personalised conditionality and support’ which was published on 2nd December. This report places carers in a ‘no conditionality’ group alongside those with severe disability or lone parents with very young children. Professor Paul Gregg who authored the report also said that he thought carers should be seen as different to other benefit claimants and he called on the Government to find ways to give carers better recognition of their role.

Carers Scotland and Carers UK have long argued that carers’ contribution should be recognised with a status that acknowledges that they are not unemployed but are active contributors to society. 

Our response to the Green Paper can be found here.

The White Paper and more information about the Government’s welfare reform agenda can be found here.