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<ul><li>The Government acknowledges the immense value of care given by family and
friend carers, who look after children whose parents are unable to provide the necessary
care themselves. This was discussed during the passage of the Work and Welfare Reform
Act 2016.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Family and friend carers are able to receive support
for the children in their care through the benefit system as they have access to child
benefit and child tax credit on <strong>the same</strong> basis as parents.</li></ul><p>
</p><ul><li>A cap at £23,000 in Greater London is equivalent to gross family earnings
of around £29,000. A cap at £20,000 in the rest of GB is equivalent to gross family
earnings of around £25,000</li><li>If we are to treat family and friend carers in
the same way as parents for the other facets of the benefits system then it is right
that the benefit cap principles should apply in the same way for family and friend
carers as they do for parents.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Where claimants need further
financial support, Local Authorities can provide additional support through the use
of Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs). The funding for DHPs is specifically aimed
at a number of groups who are likely to be particularly affected by the benefit cap.
These include people with family and friend care responsibilities.</li></ul><p> </p>
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