Carers deserve more than an extra 5p a day

Carers UK today delivered a letter from near 5,000 carers calling on the Chancellor to acknowledge unpaid carers' contribution throughout the crisis. Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey MP said:

"People looking after loved ones during Covid are doing a remarkable job, in very difficult circumstances. They deserve much more support.

"Millions of unpaid carers have faced serious financial hardship during the pandemic, and the Government's plan for an extra 5p a day is frankly an insult.

"That's why Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to support carers properly, by raising Carer's Allowance by £1,000 a year immediately, in line with the uplift in Universal Credit.

"This awful virus has shown that Britain is a nation of carers, but it seems Ministers haven't noticed.

"Liberal Democrats are determined to stand up for carers so we can build a more caring society as we emerge from this pandemic."

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Today (Wednesday 3rd February 2021) Carers UK has delivered a letter signed by near 5,000 people to the Chancellor, Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, calling on him to address the financial hardship carers are facing and increase the financial support for people entitled to Carer's Allowance.

The Government has announced that on 12th April 2021 the benefit, currently £67.25 a week, will increase by 35p to £67.60 a week. The rise equates to just half of 1%.