Carer's Allowance

Department for Work and Pensions written question – answered at on 23 May 2016.

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Photo of Frank Field Frank Field Chair, Work and Pensions Committee, Chair, Work and Pensions Committee

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the rate of take-up of carer's allowance; and what steps he is taking to improve that rate.

Photo of Justin Tomlinson Justin Tomlinson Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Work and Pensions) (Disabled People)

There are a number of qualifying conditions that have to be met in order for a claimant to receive Carer’s Allowance. These include providing care for 35 hours a week to a disabled person in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit; earning less than £110 net a week; and not being in full time education. There is no basis on which we could accurately make such an assessment on take-up rates given that these and other conditions have to be satisfied to receive Carer’s Allowance, and they can only be tested when an actual claim is made.

Information on Carer’s Allowance is widely available, including on Gov.UK. We have also introduced a new online claiming service for Carer’s Allowance, which was designed using customer insight. This has proved extremely popular with claimants, with around seven out of ten claims now being made that way and customer satisfaction rates of 90 per cent. Performance data is available on Gov.UK at https://www.gov.uk/performance/carers-allowance

DWP also works closely with stakeholders to promote Carer’s Allowance, this includes regular engagement with Carers UK; a Carer’s Allowance Unit Outreach Manager who regularly attends events throughout England, Scotland and Wales promoting Carer’s Allowance; and engagement with Carers groups through the DWP National Partnership Team. Further information on Carer’s Allowance is available on Gov.UK at https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

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