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11 January 2008

Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People, answered questions on carers and disability in our Downing Street webchat today.

Anne gave her views on the Carers Allowance, schoolchildren as carers and the Carers’ Strategy Review during the hour-long session.

• Anne McGuire’s biography (DWP website)

Read the full transcript

Moderator says: Good afternoon and welcome to today’s webchat on issues relating to caring and disability. Anne has just arrived so we’ll be starting in a few minutes.

Anne says: Hello, it’s Anne McGuire here and I am delighted that you have decided to join this web-chat today and I am really looking forward to the next hour or so taking your questions.

Janine Edbrooke: Carers are very often left living in poverty by choosing to look after the people they care for. Can you please tell me what the government intend to do to fully support carers financially, for example at an amount that reflects the cost of providing the equivalent level of care should the state have to provide it? Also will you consider providing financial support to the ‘part time’ carers who are trying to maintain some employment combined with a caring role?

Anne replies: Thanks Janine for this question. As you may know we are looking at our Carers’ strategy at the moment.  Two of the task forces are discussing the very issues you raise - that of income and of employment.  Carers can be in a job at the moment and earn up to £95 a week without it affecting their entitlement to carers’ Allowance and I know that this “earnings disregard” is very helpful to many carers who want to keep a job going at the same time as their caring duties.

The Carers’ Strategy Report will be published in the spring and I kow that many carers and their organisations are contributing to the consultation.

vc5en: what are the governments plans regarding Carers Allowance? I’ve heard a lot of web rumblings relating to your speech at the last Carers conference.

Anne replies: Thanks for this question which I get many times. My speech at the conference refelcted this discussion that many carers have had with me about the allowance. I know that many feel that it should be more each week. Some would like to see it related to income, some want to see it as a recognition of their duties as carers.  At the moment, we are looking at all of these points and others as part of the Carers’ Strategy discussions, specifically in the Income Task Force.  I would be happy to have your own views on how you see the future financial support for carers being delivered.

Sandy Lawrence: How can the Government justify having a carers allowance which is significantly less than unemployment benefit which most carers can;t get because they are unavailable for work because they are caring??

Anne replies: Thanks for the question.  Carers’ Allowance was introduced in the 1970s by the then Labour government as a “recongition” for carers and at that time was set at £10.  Over the period of the last ten years we have increased the Allowance by higher than the rate of inflation and increased the earnings limits substantially for those carers who wish to work. The whole issue of carers’ income is being looked at as part of the Carers’ Strategy review which is currently ongoing. There will be a report in the spring.

P Singh:  I will be one of the first to have to wait beyond age 60 to receive pension. Will my CA still be paid until I receive a pension?At present, carers allowance stops when a pension is paid at age 60 (women)

Anne replies: Thanks for the question.  Carers’ Alowance will still be paid until the state pension is in payment.  However, you will also be aware that if you are in receipt of Pension Credit, you will still be able to receive the carers Premium, which is currently £27.15 per week.

Mrs Diane Tempest: All carers should be paid even if they are schoolchildren.
Schoolchildren should have more help and if possible releived of the responsibilityof caring.

Anne replies: Thanks Diane for this question as I know the issue of young carers casues great concern to many people.

The support that young carers need is not necessarily one that can be met by the benefits system.  You are right to say that they need much more support, and these often need to be in the form of local services so that children are relieved of the caring responsibilities that they undertake at the moment.  Only this week, we announced that we will be investing £3million in pathfinder areas to help children burdened by caring responsibilities, looking at how we build more effective support around a family to ensure that children do not fall into the role of principle carer.

Imelda Redmond - Chief Executive, Carers UK: Four out of five carers are of working age and many are forced to give up work because of their caring role. Our research shows that three-quarters of carers are worse off after becoming a carer. Many carers want to work but are unable to continue because of inadequate services and complicated benefit rules. How can we get the benefit system, employment support services and social services working together so that more carers can undertake paid work alongside their caring role?

Anne replies: Thanks Imelda for this question. You are right to highlight that many carers want to, and indeed do currently, work.  You are also right to emphasis that we need to become better at joining up the information and support which will support them in doing this.  I think it is right to say that our colleagues in JobCentre Plus are increasingly aware of the very specific issues that face carers who want to engage in paid work and they are able to give advice on the benefits etc.  However, I recognise that we need to do more to ensure that carers do not have to swim through miles of bureaucracy to get the answer to questions that will allow them to make decisions about their lives. The review of the Carers’ strategy will be looking closely at these issues in order to make it as easy as possible for carers to balance their caring responsibilities with paid work.

Patricia: they may of raised the carers allowance above inflation but does it is stil not enough to provide basic needs, even with the meanst tested top up of income support which is reduced to an over lapping rule. When are we going to get a realstic income to survive on?

Anne replies: Thaks for your response. I know that the current level of carers’ allowance causes great frustration.  However you are also right to point out that there are additonal benefits that carers’ may be entitled to - you have mentioned income support for one. There may be others depending on individual circumstances. The whole issue of carers’ income is being looked at as part of our current Strategy discussions. as well as those relating to carers and employment.

Steve Horscroft: I would like to ask the Minister about getting a better joined up system that can support Carers. I need to ‘care’ more for my wife when physiotherapy has not been available for her because of budget pressures on our local NHS Trust. This may require extra NHS spending on drugs to alleviate problems because of this lack of availability, and compromises the time I have to work when I have to offer support for simple tasks that better co-ordination/effective spending could have alleviated.

Anne replies: Thanks Steve.  I agree that we need to get better at cordinating the way in which we offer support to carers and there are different pressures at different times.  This is one of a range of issues that we are currently looking at as part of the Strategy Review on Carers.

clive arnold: You and the government CONSTANTLY ignore Carers in general and UK Carers in particular. The exclusion from consultations is insulting and patronising. Carers want to be heard and NOT have well-paid charity workers who have assumed the right to speak on their behalf doing so.

My question, UK Carers wants access to consultations will they be included and not EXCLUDED?

Anne replies: Thanks Clive.  There have been and will continue to be opportunities for individuals and their organisations to be involved.  Indeed as we speak, the Prime Minister is discussing the issues with carers in Leeds.  So we are not excluding anybody.

Nick Hoile: What are the Government’s policies to promote carers’ mental health and emotional wellbeing?

Anne replies: Thanks Nick.  You question has been raised as part of the ongoing disucssion on the Carers’ Strategy Review and we are taking very seriously the point made about the pressure on carers and the impact of their mental health and general well-being.

Julie Osborne: I have a special needs child and therefore I am unable to work full-time, however, I do work part-time. My main concern is the lack of childcare available for disabled children in my area, especially to cover school holidays. I only earn a small wage and still care for my daughter 24/7 but do not qualify for any carers allowance. I’s disgusting that us mums and dads are penalised. Life is stressful enough without anymore financial worry!

Anne replies: Thanks Julie. There has ben a massive increase in the provision of child care across the country over the past few years, but I appreciate that there may not be the coverage to suit every circumstances.  There is currently work being undertaken to look at the provision for disabled children, the childcare accessibility pilots, which will invest £35million in the next three years. I hope that you will be able to see some significant changes in the very near future.

Sue Rowland: The law states that facilities should now be ‘disabled friendly’, but our new leisure facility didn’t realise that carers are carees are not necessarily the same gender! This means we are frozen out of a lot of opportunities as there tend to be slightly more male carees than female and most carers tend to be female. So…my son ( who is a young man) can not go in the ladies to change and I ( being female) can not go in the mens. There is no redress for this as on paper everything is as it should be!
When will carers be recognised as being important in their own right and no seen as invisable people ?

Anne replies: Thanks Sue.  I am somewhat surprised that there is no provision for the situation you described. It cannot be unique that the carer of a disabled young adult may not be of the same gender.  Have you had a word with the local authority or the owner of the leisure facilities to see if they can make an adjustment that would meet your needs? The situation might be covered under the Disability Discrimination Act.

Carol Joyce Walsh: I recently became a widow, my dear husband passed away before Christmas. I have been a full-time Carer for the past 20 odd years.I want to skill up and get a proper career for myself. I also want to learn to drive because I have been denied the opportunity whilst I was a carer.P.S. I am very interested in politics & would like to become a Local Councillor. Help!!

Anne replies: Thanks Carol and my condolences on your recent bereavement.  I am impressed by your ambition to become a local councillor. Can I say that we need to see lots of people come into politics who can bring with them experience and energy.  You might want to contact your local Learning and Skills Council who should be able to advise you about opportunities in your area.

Good luck in pursuing your goals.

pete bates: How can this government really convince carers and carers organisations like Crossroads that they are truly valued in society.

Anne replies: Thanks Pete.  I have known of the fanstastic work undertaken by Crossroads and indeed was involed in supporting the establishment of a group in my own local community many moons ago.  Carers are certainly valued by this government and we have sought over the past ten years to make improvements to their lives - with carers leave, flexible working, carers’ credit, increases in earnings limit.  The current review of the National Carers’ Strategy , announced by the Prime Minister, is a clear indications that the issues that affect carers are at the heart of this government’s policy development. Hope you agree that while there is still a lot to do, we have made many improvements.

anne curry - mother and carer: i am a carer and i wish we could be heard - more webchats as you reaslised we are a large body of people the silent army working in the darkess why can we have more access to our opinions being heard and acted upon after all we are the ones doing the work we are the experts.

Anne replies: Thanks Anne.  I think the web chat idea is great.  I and other Ministers need to listen to those like yourself who are the doing the job day in and day out.  I hope to look at how we can improve the ways in which people get in touch with us.

Philip J Connolly: The minister has acknowledged the additional difficulties that blind and partially sighted people have in getting work and has frequently said that more should be done to help them, please could she say what additional measures she would support and look to her colleagues in DWP to introduce?

Anne replies: Thanks Philip.  You are right to highlight that there are may difficulties facing people with visual impairments getting into work.  We are curently reviewing our Workstep programme which helps many disabled people, including those with visual disabilites to get into and continue in work.  You may be aware that our Access to Work Programme supports many viusally impared people in work.  However, I will be working with organisations to look at what more we need to do to ensure that those with visual impairments get the opprtunities to work.

Norrie Murray: Some disabled people are involved in volunteering and many say that it gives them a “feel good factor” and is a way of making new friends and feeling a part of their community. Does the Minister agree that the Government should provide the same kind of support to disabled people who wish to volunteer as it provides for disabled people who wish to enter paid work?

Anne replies: Hello Norrie, good to hear from you again.  You and I both have long experience in the voluntary sector and we know that volunteering is a great way of building up skills, experience and confidence.  I want to see disabled people get the same volunteering opportunities as non disabled people. However as you know, our Access to Work Programme is targeted at employment and we have no plans to change it.  However, I would be happy to discuss with you ways in which volunteering can be opened up for disabled people. although many disabled people do currently volunteer.

Jim Clapperton: Why is the carer system being put on to a self administering basis, causing the disabled and infirm to become employers etc.

Anne replies: Thanks Jim.  I think that you are speaking about the “self declaration” on the Carers’ Allowance claim form. It is not intended to put the disabled person in an employer/employee relationship but is designed to make the claim process simpler. Hope I have not misunderstood the question.

Patricia: thank you for your answer to my previous question. But the carers allowance and income support does not cover the basic needs in life, a balance diet for example along with paying for the basic essential household bills. We don’t even have an income which covers the legal mininum wage for a 40 hour week and most carers are providing 24/7 care. we are working in circumstances which are not covered by employment law and we put our lives at risk which in many cases ends up with carers in ill health. I am sure many of these issues will be raised during the conslutation with carers. but can we be reassured that notice is going to be taken and when will we be notifed of what actions the government is going to take from the findings of the consultation?

Anne replies: Thanks for coming back to me. I can assure you that the issues you have raised with me today will form part of the discussion that we are curerntly having with carers and their organisations. The report will be published in the spring and will be well publicised.  Many thanks for taking the time to speak to me today.

Anne says: This has been a great experience for me having the opportunity to address so many of the issues that affect carers and disabled people.  In a short time, I have not been able to answer all the questions, but please do not hesitate to contact me at the Department of Work and Pensions, Whitehall. 

Moderator says: That’s all we have time for today. Our thanks to Anne for spending over an hour answering your questions.

Keep an eye on pm.gov.uk for more webchats with Government Ministers over the next few weeks.

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