Usdaw celebrates the contribution of working carers and welcomes the Government providing more support

Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary says: “We are proud to support National Carers Week, an annual event highlighting the contribution unpaid carers make every day. We very much welcome this year’s theme 'Caring About Equality' highlighting the inequalities faced by carers, including a greater risk of poverty, social isolation, poor mental and physical health. The vast majority of care in the UK is provided by family and friends, who make up the UK's 5.7 million carers and without their willingness and ability to provide care, local authority social services and the NHS would collapse under the strain.

“At the last Budget, the Chancellor increased the Carer’s Allowance threshold by an unprecedented 30%, which meant that full-time carers have been able to earn £45 more a week without losing their entitlement, from April this year. This is a welcome step in reforming the support available to unpaid carers. The Chancellor also committed to look at the ‘cliff-edge’ earnings threshold that results in the allowance being withdrawn where a carer’s earnings exceed it. Usdaw welcomes the commitment and will continue to call for an end to the unfair situation where earning a penny over the threshold means the entire benefit is clawed back.

“The vast majority of care in the UK is provided by family and friends. Without their willingness and ability to provide care, local authority social services and the NHS would collapse under the strain. All too often, carers feel life is a pressure cooker of competing demands, with worries about money, time off work, their own health and that of the person they are caring for. With more people than ever providing care, we welcome Government action to recognise and properly reward their enormous contribution.”