Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to protect the incomes of workers involved in Shared Lives provision.

This Government is grateful for everything Shared Lives carers do to provide care and support to thousands of people. Many have continued to do this during the COVID-19 crisis, but we are aware that others have seen a reduction in the caring hours they provide, which has an impact on their income.

The Department is currently working with Shared Lives Plus and local government on this issue, to ensure that Shared Lives carers receive appropriate support at a local level.

In addition, Shared Lives carers may be able to receive support through the welfare system, including benefitting from Government's relaxation of the earnings rules (known as the Minimum Income Floor) in Universal Credit.