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Written Question
Social Security Benefits: Coronavirus
Tuesday 12th May 2020

Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to provide welfare support to people with carers having to shield themselves during the covid-19 outbreak; and if she will make a statement.

Answered by Justin Tomlinson

DWP has now introduced two important temporary measures to help unpaid carers through the current emergency:

  • unpaid carers will be able to continue to claim Carer’s Allowance if they have a temporary break in caring, because they or the person they care for gets coronavirus or if either have to isolate because of it. (Under normal rules there are restrictions on breaks in care, but these have been lifted.); and
  • providing “emotional support” (rather than just more traditional forms of care) to a disabled person will also now count towards the Carer’s Allowance threshold of 35 hours of care a week. This recognises that the nature of caring might have to change during the current emergency.

If there are particular circumstances that mean that someone who was providing care for a disabled person ceases to be paid Carer’s Allowance or the Universal Credit carer element, then, depending on their circumstances and the benefits they claim, the disabled person may be able to receive an additional amount of benefit, specifically designed to help with the costs of care.

Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 04 May 2020
Covid-19: DWP Update

"I recognise the exceptional work that the DWP is doing at this time. I also want to applaud the work that everybody in Wolverhampton is doing, from following the Government guidance to caring for loved ones. What plans does my right hon. Friend have to provide support for people who …..."
Stuart Anderson - View Speech

View all Stuart Anderson (Con - South Shropshire) contributions to the debate on: Covid-19: DWP Update
Written Question
Burial: Costs
Tuesday 28th April 2020

Asked by: Stuart Anderson (Conservative - South Shropshire)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has plans to provide financial support for burial costs to people in financial hardship with relatives who have died as a result of covid-19.

Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)

The Government provides support to bereaved families in a number of ways. The Funeral Expenses Payments scheme provides a significant contribution towards the cost of a simple, respectful funeral arranged by recipients of certain income based benefits or tax credits. The scheme pays necessary burial and cremation costs in full, as defined by legislation, plus up to £1000 for other expenses such as the cost of a coffin, church and funeral director fees, which was increased from £700 on 8 April. Scotland has a similar scheme, the Funeral Support Payment scheme. Support for funeral costs for all young people under 18 is provided by the Children’s Funeral Fund for England, with similar schemes in Scotland and Wales. Interest-free Social Fund Budgeting Loans and Universal Credit Budgeting Advances can also be used for funeral expenses. Further financial support is available through Bereavement Support Payments which help working age people whose spouse or civil partner dies.