MPs Back More Financial Help for Carers
MPs have urged the government to provide extra financial help for unpaid carers.The Commons work and pensions committee said people who care for relatives and friends save the taxpayer an estimated £87bn every year.
In a report published on Friday, the MPs said carers' support was of "critical importance" to the government.
They recommended income replacement for those who have to work part-time or are unable to work because of their commitments, and compensation for costs associated with care work.
The report said carers often struggle to remain in work because of a lack of affordable, reliable and flexible care services, and risk their working skills becoming out of date.
It concluded: "We believe that the current system of benefits for carers is outdated and we recommend the introduction of two distinctive 'tiers' of support for carers, offering income replacement support for carers unable to work, or working only part-time, and compensation for the additional costs of caring for all carers in intensive caring roles."
It went on: "We believe that the Department for Work and Pensions should support adults who become carers during their working lives to combine work and care, and enable those who wish to return to paid work when caring ends or changes to do so."
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