Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of providing additional financial support to unpaid carers.

This Government recognises and values the vital contribution made by carers in supporting some of the most vulnerable in society, including pensioners and those with disabilities.

The social security system in Great Britain provides financial support for unpaid carers on low incomes through Universal Credit and the DWP benefits it replaces; through Pension Credit; and through pensioner Housing Benefit. In England and Wales, it also provides non-means-tested support through Carer’s Allowance.

The rate of Carer’s Allowance will increase from £76.75 to £81.90 from April 2024, in line with the increase in the Consumer Prices Index in the year to September 2023. As of May 2023, it was being paid to nearly 830,000 carers in England and Wales. Between 2022/23 and 2027/28, real-terms expenditure on Carer’s Allowance in England and Wales is forecast to rise by around 40% to just over £4.7 billion a year.

Universal Credit, Pension Credit and other means-tested benefits can be paid to carers at a higher rate than to those without caring responsibilities. The Universal Credit carer element is currently £185.86 per monthly assessment period, rising to £198.31 in April 2024. It is payable in addition to the standard allowance and was being paid to around 560,000 carers as of May 2023. The additional amount for carers in Pension Credit is currently £42.75 a week, rising to £45.60 from April 2024. It is paid as an additional amount in the Guarantee Credit and was being paid to around 100,000 carers as of May 2023.