Carer’s Allowance earnings rules prevent two thirds of parent carers from taking on more paid work, new polling shows.
815 parent carers responded to an online poll by the disabled children’s organisation, Contact:
- 36% said they had turned down additional hours or pay because of the Carer’s Allowance earnings limit.
- 31% said they had reduced or stopped work.
- A further 29% were not currently in paid work, and just 4% said the earnings limit had not affected a decision about paid work.
The findings come as Contact responds to the government’s call for evidence on the future of Carer’s Allowance: “We want the government to use its review of Carer’s Allowance to create a system that gives carers greater financial security and supports those who want to remain in, return to or increase paid work.”