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<p>This Government recognises and values the vital contribution made by carers each
and every day in supporting some of the most vulnerable in society including pensioners
and those with disabilities. The support that carers provide has been even more vital
during the Covid-19 pandemic when other support services may have been reduced or
even closed and the caring role became even harder due to the need to self-isolate
or shield the person they care for.</p><p> </p><p>Unpaid carers may be able to apply
for Carer’s Allowance if they meet the qualifying conditions, such as providing 35
hours of care a week. To ensure that carers already in receipt of Carer’s Allowance
do not inadvertently stop receiving it because of changes to patterns of care, we
have allowed emotional support to count towards the 35 hours of care being provided
by the carer as well as relaxing the rules around breaks in care. We have extended
these provisions until 12 May 2021 in recognition that carers need extra flexibility
in the way they provide care during the current emergency.</p><p> </p><p>Between 2020/21
and 2025/26 real terms expenditure on Carer’s Allowance is forecast to increase by
nearly a third (around £1 billion). By 2025/26, the Government is forecast to spend
just over £4bn a year on Carer’s Allowance.</p><p> </p><p>As of May 2020, there were
1008 carers in the West Dorset constituency that were receiving Carer’s Allowance
and in 2019/20 we spent approximately £3.6 million on Carer’s Allowance there. A further
673 carers had a claim to an underlying entitlement to Carer’s Allowance.</p><p> </p><p>Carers
have access to the full range of social security benefits according to their circumstances.
Income replacement benefits help people and households on lower incomes, and can include
a carer premium, currently £37.50 a week. An equivalent additional amount applies
in Pension Credit. Universal Credit also includes a carer element at the rate of £162.92
per monthly assessment period. These amounts recognise the additional contribution
and responsibilities associated with caring and mean that lower-income carers can
receive more money than others who receive these benefits. Between the existing carer-specific
support, and the temporary Covid-19 uplift, 270,000 carer households receiving Universal
Credit have benefitted from up to an extra £2,990 this financial year.</p><p> </p><p>During
the pandemic, the Government has also, for example:</p><p> </p><ul><li>provided funding
to Carers UK to extend their support phoneline;</li><li>provided funding to Carers
Trust to make onward grants to provide support to unpaid carers experiencing loneliness
during the pandemic;</li><li>produced a leaflet to help carers identify themselves
on discharge from hospital;</li><li>published guidance specifically for carers and
young carers, which includes further information about sources of support including
looking after their own health and wellbeing;</li><li>under the current lockdown restrictions
carers can arrange for another family member or friend to provide respite care so
that they can take a break where this is reasonably necessary. Certain households
can also form a support bubble with another household. This includes one person of
any age living with one or more disabled persons of any age who require continuous
care. This also includes a similar household but with other non-disabled persons also
living in the household as long as there is no more than one non-disabled adult in
the household. Further, one or more adults living with a child under 5 with a disability
requiring constant care can also form a support bubble.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p>
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