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<p>This Government recognises and values the vital contribution made by carers in
supporting some of the most vulnerable in society.</p><p> </p><p>The information requested
on the cost to the public purse of increasing the rate of Carer’s Allowance to that
of Jobseeker’s Allowance is not available but an indicative cost can be calculated
using data published on StatXplore and gov.uk.</p><p> </p><p>The current rate of Jobseeker’s
Allowance for those aged 25 and over is £73.10. The difference between this and the
rate of Carer’s Allowance (currently £66.15 a week) is £6.95. As of November 2018,
there were approximately 780,000 claimants receiving Carer’s Allowance in England
and Wales. Thus, paying an additional £6.95 a week to carers in England and Wales
would cost in the region of £280m a year. Carer’s Allowance has been devolved to the
Scottish Government since September 2018 and is delivered in Scotland by DWP for an
interim period under an Agency Agreement.</p><p> </p><p>The Government also provides
targeted financial support for carers on low incomes through income-related benefits
such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Income Support. In April 2019, the additional
amount for carers in receipt of Pension Credit and Income Support increased to £36.85
a week. The Universal Credit carer element increased to £160.20 per monthly assessment
period. Universal Credit also adjusts to fluctuating earnings and periods when paid
employment is not feasible, for example due to caring responsibilities. The Government
is committed to helping carers balance providing care with their own paid employment
where this is possible, as indicated in the Carers Action Plan.</p>
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