The DWP should find ways to ease the burden on vulnerable families who are struggling to pay back overpayments
Pity the poor social care system. Its place as one of the most integral parts of civilised society has done nothing to win it the government’s attention; while the green paper (first due two years ago) is still MIA, a former minister is left to field his own ideas to the press. The result is prolonged suffering for huge swathes of disabled and older people, no less so for the carers left to plug the gaps. As cash-starved local authorities buckle under the pressure of paying care costs, 7 million people – that’s one in 10 of us – is currently caring for a loved one, often in financial hardship because they’ve had to give up or cut back hours at work to do it.
What a way to repay them, then: it has emerged that thousands of unpaid carers have been left in large benefit debt due to staff shortages at the Department for Work and Pensions. Carer’s allowance, worth a tiny £66.15 a week, can be claimed by those who provide at least 35 hours of care to someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit. But claimants must meet further strict criteria, such as not earning more than £123 a week or studying more than 21 hours a week. This is notoriously hard to navigate when applied to real life. Carer’s allowance has the harshest withdrawal rate in the benefits system; the way it’s constructed means some family carers are unaware that earning even £1 over the earnings threshold can result in 100% loss of their benefit. This is even more difficult for some carers. Tracking earnings can be very complicated: for example, if you are self-employed or have irregular shift patterns.
Continue reading...from The Guardian http://bit.ly/2PItJge
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