Care service needs proper investment
Moira Cunningham, Franklin Street, Scarborough
I am the full time unpaid carer formyveryelderlymother,and part time carer for my learning disabled son (and have never qualified to receive Carer’s Allowance). It was with disgust that I learned via national news media of the persecution by DWP of many unpaid carers who have apparently inadvertently been overpaid on their Carer’s Allowance.
This allowance is currently paid at a rate of £81.90 per week; the rules stipulate that a carer may earn £151 per week from part time employment, but if their earnings exceed this by even a few pence they lose the whole amount of the Carers Allowance. Effectively the maximum income allowed to a family/unpaid carer is just over £12,000 per year.
By the way, the cost of three hours of additional one to one support for my son is now around £60. I think the figures speak for themselves! Self evidently, if unpaid carers become ill or incapacitated, due to the day to day pressures, the state will have to step in and the costs will escalate.
Prevention is better than cure – we need a properly funded national care service. Decent pay and conditions, training and career progression would make the role of paid carer a more attractive career choice.
Unpaid carers would then be able to access the support they need in order to continue. The knock on benefits to the NHS, and to the economy as a whole are clear. Can we, as a nation, afford not to invest in this?
ADVICE FOR CAT OWNERS
‘Preventionis betterthancure– weneedaproperly fundednational careservice’