Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a dedicated work allowance for unpaid carers who are in receipt of Universal Credit and the carer element.

There are no plans to make an assessment. The carers element is an additional amount of benefit, payable in Universal Credit, to support carers who provide care of 35 hours or more each week for a severely disabled person, and as such have no work related requirements. This payment is made in recognition of the support provided by carers for relatives, partners and friends who may be ill, frail, or disabled.