Over 7,800 people have signed an online petition urging the UK Government to increase Carer's Allowance to £11.44 per hour, equating to £400.40 per week. Currently, the benefit provides £81.90 per week for 35 hours of unpaid care. The petition argues that the current rate is inadequate and urges the government to recognize the significant contribution of unpaid carers to the economy.
More than 7,800 people have signed an online petition calling on the UK Government to increase Carer’s Allowance to match the National Minimum Wage rate of £11.44 per hour, which would give people a weekly payment of £400.40, or £1,601.60 every four-week pay period. The benefit is currently worth £81.90 each week to people providing 35 hours of unpaid care and is set to rise by 1.7 per cent to £83.30 from April.
The increase to the earnings threshold means someone on Carer’s Allowance will be able to earn over £10,000 in the 2025/26 financial year. Latest Benefits News The petition states: “Carer's Allowance is currently £327.60 every four weeks for people who care for someone for at least 35 hours per week. Around £2.34 per hour.
“A recent study has shown that unpaid carers in England and Wales contribute £445 million to the economy every day – that’s £162 billion per year. The study says that the value of unpaid care is equivalent to a second NHS in England and Wales. Despite this, carers receive Carers Allowance which amounts to £4,258.80 per year. Because it is taxable, it is effectively treated as a wage when claiming other benefits, which many carers have to do to survive.
CARER's ALLOWANCE MINIMUM WAGE PETITION UK GOVERNMENT UNPAID CARE
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