Government to increase weekly earnings limit on Carer’s Allowance

Usdaw welcomes the recent announcement by Government to increase the weekly earnings limit on Carer’s Allowance from £87 to £95 per week from 1 October 2007. Previously every October many thousands of low paid working carers lost their entitlement to Carer’s Allowance when the national minimum wage adult rate increased or after an annual pay rise.

“Usdaw has campaigned alongside others to end this injustice and Government has listened” said Usdaw’s General Secretary, John Hannett.

Compare this to the last increase in the earnings limit – it was only raised by £3 in April. Government has now more than doubled that – raising the limit by £8. This new limit means that more carers will hang onto their Carer’s Allowance when their earnings increase and more carers will be able to receive the Allowance for the first time.

“Millions of elderly, disabled and vulnerable people rely on friends and family for care and support. But at the moment carers are paying a heavy price for the care they provide” said John Hannett, General Secretary. “We want changes to the benefit system that help to promote carers inclusion in the labour market, rather than prevent it. At the same time there must be a recognition and support for those carers who cannot work. The new earnings limit is definitely a step in the right direction. We will continue to campaign for changes that enable carers to make their own decisions about how they choose to combine paid work with their caring responsibilities.”

For more information visit: www.usdaw.org.uk/campaigns/supportingparentsandcarers/

Notes to Editors:

• Contacts for newsdesks: Usdaw’s Media and Communications Department, can be contacted on 0161 249 2469 or e-mail communications@usdaw.org.uk.
• Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK’s fifth biggest trade union, with over 353,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
• More information and news releases are available at our online Newsroom.
• Subscribe/unsubscribe to Usdaw news releases via our online e-news service.

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
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