Shipley MP asks if government will consider increasing Carers Allowance earnings limit
- jamieparkinson2001
- Oct 7, 2024
- 1 min read
Anna Dixon today asked the government if they would consider raising the carers allowance earnings limit.
Speaking at the Carer’s Allowance Overpayments debate in the House of Commons, the Shipley MP mentioned the 1,200 residents in her constituency who receive Carers Allowance and that the current earnings limit leaves people vulnerable to accidentally accruing overpayments.
Current rules stipulate that to qualify for the Carers Allowance, a person must look after someone for at least 35 hours a week and earn less than £151 per week after tax, National Insurance and other allowable expenses.
Ms Dixon said:
“There are nearly 1,200 recipients of carer’s allowance in Shipley.
“The current earnings limit leaves people vulnerable to accidentally accruing overpayments if they become ineligible for the allowance, and it also acts as a disincentive, deterring people from working as much as they would like to.
“Will the Government consider raising the earnings limit?”
Sir Stephen Timms MP, the Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, replied:
“My hon. Friend has written to me about this matter, and I welcome her commitment to making progress.
“In an excellent piece of work, the former Work and Pensions Committee made a number of recommendations on the earnings rules, and once the new Committee is in place, we shall respond to the former Committee’s proposals.”