Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of amending eligibility for Carer's Allowance to provide a level of income replacement for unpaid carers who care for someone for fewer than 35 hours a week.

Successive Governments have maintained the caring threshold for Carer’s Allowance at 35 hours a week since the benefit was first introduced. Carers who provide less than 35 hours of care can already receive financial support through the benefit system where eligible, including through Universal Credit. Carers have their Universal Credit conditionality adjusted to reflect their caring responsibilities.

Since April 2010, carers who do not get Carer's Allowance have been able to apply for Carer's Credits if they are caring for one or more disabled people for at least 20 hours a week. Carer’s Credits are Class 3 credits which can help towards the conditions of entitlement to the new State Pension and Widowed Parent’s Allowance.