AQW 4090/17-22


Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry


Tabled Date: 12/05/2020
Answered On Date: 24/06/2020
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities whether she has any plans to supplement Carer’s Allowance to support people with caring responsibilities during the COVID-19 crisis.


Answer:
I recognise at a very personal level the enormous amount of work that is done by those who have the responsibility of caring for others, and there is no doubt that their work is of great value to the wider community, as well as to those people for whom they are caring.
That’s why my Department has introduced two important temporary measures to help unpaid carers through the current COVID-19 emergency:
Unpaid carers will be able to continue to claim Carer’s Allowance if they have a temporary break in caring, because either they or the person they care for becomes infected with coronavirus or has to self-isolate because of it.
Providing “emotional support” to a severely disabled person will also now count towards the Carer’s Allowance threshold of 35 hours of care a week.
The rate of Carer’s Allowance was increased to £67.25 a week from April 2020 as part of the annual benefits up-rating exercise. There are no current plans for a further increase to the weekly rate or to pay a supplement to those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance.
Those carers who are on low incomes can access additional financial support through income-related benefits and their associated carer premiums/additions. Carers who are eligible to claim Universal Credit will also be able to benefit from the increase in the standard allowance (around £1000 a year) recently announced.
In addition, those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance here may, depending on their circumstances, be eligible to access the range of other emergency financial support that my Department is providing during the COVID-19 pandemic, including Discretionary Support
In response to the coronavirus outbreak, across my Department I have implemented a range of measures and actions to relieve hardship and to ensure people most in need at this time get the help and support they require. The Executive’s response to the coronavirus emergency is evolving and my Department continues to look at how best to support people during this unprecedented time.