Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of increasing the national living wage on people's potential to exceed the weekly income limit for carer's allowance.

We are proud of the National Living Wage and the significant increases the Government has been able to make to it. Universal Credit flexes to take increased earnings into account. Carer’s Allowance has a weekly earnings rule.

Subject to Parliamentary approval, this will increase from £123 to £128 net a week from April 2020, in line with average earnings growth.

The Department is to undertake research into carers employment and potential barriers to working. We will look at the findings from the research and other evidence with an open mind when the level of the earnings limit is next considered.