Thousands of carers in England, Wales and Scotland are set to lose benefits when new disability-claim rules start in April. 5,000 carers currently eligible for a £58.45 a week allowance will no longer be when personal independence payments replace the disability living allowance.
More than a million people receive carer's allowance. For many, this entitlement is dependent on the eligibility for the disability living allowance (DLA) of someone of working age for whom they care. When DLA is replaced by the personal independence payment (PIP), there will be new rules and assessments to judge who can claim assistance to help them lead an independent life.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says about 76,000 disabled people with carers will be reassessed for PIP.
It believes 25,000 of these people will no longer be entitled to DLA as a result, and their carer will also lose their allowance.
At the same time, another 20,000 carers will be newly awarded an allowance as a result of the PIP reassessment - meaning a net total of 5,000 carers who will miss out.
But Carers UK says this estimate is too low. It says about 10,000 carers, 5,000 carers currently eligible under DLA and 5,000 "future" carers who would also have qualified under the DLA system - stand to lose.
A spokesman for the DWP said: "We've protected the link between carer's allowance and PIP entitlements, which has been welcomed by charities.
"Furthermore, the universal credit will ensure that those carers on low incomes receive the support they need by allowing them to keep more of their own money as they move into work.
"It will also give carers more flexibility if they need carers breaks."
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Source: BBC News
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