Our Fight to Raise Carer's Allowance
Unpaid carers are doing a remarkable and important job in very difficult circumstances. They deserve our support.
But many carers are facing extreme financial hardship.
900,000 full-time unpaid carers rely on Carer's Allowance - but at just £67.25 a week, it's just not nearly enough.
Carer's Allowance is just £67 a week. It's just not nearly enough.
It is the lowest benefit of its kind - another example of how carers are too often an afterthought for many politicians.
Many unpaid carers have been struggling for months, often relying on foodbanks to feed themselves and the people they care for.
We've got to do better
Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to immediately raise Carer's Allowance by £1,000 a year, the same as the uplift in Universal Credit.
Three weeks ago I asked the Prime Minister to support unpaid carers by increasing the Carer's Allowance by £20 a week.
- Ed Davey MP 🔶🇪🇺 (@EdwardJDavey) November 25, 2020
He didn't do so. When he's found millions to hand out to Conservative Party cronies in contracts, why can't he do a little more to help unpaid carers? #PMQs pic.twitter.com/hdsI4iAu1K
Carers face big challenges every single day; challenges that have been made even harder by coronavirus. A recent survey by Carers UK found that most are having to spend more time looking after loved ones during this pandemic.
Most haven't been able to take a single break since it started. Most are simply exhausted.
And now they are worried.
Liberal Democrats will stand up for carers
Worried about their own mental health, worried about what will happen if they themselves fall ill - because there's no one to take over - and worried about whether they can cope in a new lockdown.
We must do far more to support our wonderful carers.
The Liberal Democrats will stand up for carers and lead the way to a more caring society as we emerge from this pandemic.