Question to 'against' argument

Q. Many informal carers partially or fully give up paid employment in order to provide the informal care for one or more family members. This often leads to financial strains and issues surrounding their limited pension contributions. Have the Government taken any steps to overcome such problems and financially recognise carers’ contribution?

A. Carers can access financial support. Carer’s Allowance is the main state benefit for carers, which is currently worth £48.65 a week. There are a number of conditions that must be met to qualify for this benefit, however if a person looks after someone for more than 35 hours a week, it may be unlikely that they will earn more than £95 through paid employment. There is a free telephone help-line and many social workers offer advice or referral to benefits teams set up within local authorities. The Carer Premium is an additional payment available up to £27.15 a week. If a carer receives carers allowance and are on Income Support or income-based job seekers allowance, they should receive carers Premium automatically.
Direct payments allow carers to purchase services they are assessed as needing to support them in their caring role and maintain their health and well-being. This may ease financial burdens if carers were previously purchasing services themselves. Just several examples published by the Government include carers purchasing driving lessons or a short holiday with a direct payment.
The Government have taken on board public opinion and largely in response to the Carers UK’s Fair Deal Campaign, introduced in 2002 a £200 million package of increases in carers’ benefits. This almost doubled the Carers Premium paid to the poorest carers.
The Government also increased the earning limits for carers allowance resulting in more carers being able to work part time without it affecting their benefits. The right to request flexible working in employment also made accessing paid employment around caring easier.
With regard to pensions, there has been improvement to pension provision including the introduction of a second state pension for carers. If someone qualifies for Home Responsibilities Protection or to receive Carers Allowance, they can build up their entitlement to the second state pension. So people with caring responsibilities will not be penalised in their pension if they do not earn sufficient National Insurance contributions to build up the earnings related component to their basic pension.
The Government has taken steps and invested spending to overcome financial difficulties faced by carers. So rather than relying on informal care to save public spending on community care, the Government is increasingly recognising carers contribution and financial needs.