Family carers should be paid the living wage, a full-time carer has told the UK’s House of Lords.
Nadia Taylor made the comment at a meeting of the House of Lords Adult Social Care Committee.
Carers are “abandoned by society”, mum Nadia Taylor has told the House of Lords
She told the committee that carers are “abandoned by society”.
Mum-of-two Taylor, 46, gave up work to care for her parents. They have chronic medical conditions.
Taylor’s husband and her two teenage children also have health issues.
As well as caring for her family members, Taylor is the chair of trustees at the charity Carers Network.
Carer’s Allowance ‘outrageously low’
She said the £69.70 per week paid to carers through Carer’s Allowance is “outrageously low”.
Extra payments are available in Scotland and Wales, but not England.
Some carers qualify for other benefits, but many who provide round-the-clock care only receive Carer’s Allowance, said Taylor.
The Lords committee was looking at links between poverty, benefits and work.
Dr Valentina Zigante is a research officer at the London School of Economics.
She told the committee that in Holland and Spain employment contracts allow payments to be made to a spouse for caring.
Family carers receive direct payments in ‘exceptional circumstances’
Payments can be made to family carers through the direct payments system in the UK, but only in exceptional circumstances.
A direct payment is money councils pay families who care for a disabled loved one so they can buy in help.
Madeleine Starr is the director of business development for the charity Carers UK.
She told the committee her charity welcomes employment reforms planned by the Government.
These will give carers the right to request unpaid leave and flexible working.
Measures are a ‘matter of urgency’
Starr said the Government should commit parliamentary time to ensure the measures become law as a “matter of urgency”.
The Department for Work and Pensions has said that since 2010 Carer’s Allowance has increased by £700 and that carers may be able to claim other benefits.
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Published: 28 April 2022
