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Support for carers "too complex"
14 September 2009
Britain's six million unpaid carers who look after relatives or dependents are missing out on crucial benefits because of overly complex rules, MPs have concluded.
A report by the Commons public accounts committee revealed that carers claim only £2bn in benefits, while their work saves the Treasury an estimated £23bn a year in health bills.
A fifth of carers who receive benefits say they find the process of claiming difficult, the report said. There are currently around six million unpaid carers in the UK, looking after sick or disabled family and friends. Their only form of support comes from the Department for Work and Pensions through the carers' benefit scheme and through employment support.
But the committee criticised the department for making carers "jump through hoops" to apply for benefits and allowances. MPs stated that the benefits system for carers was "unnecessarily complex" and confusing.
The report called on the government to make it easier for carers to be referred to the correct services for their benefits at a local level.
Read more on epolitix.com
Featured Event
Open Public Services - Passage of a bill workshop
This VSNW/Parliamentary Outreach Service event will explore the stages that the bill would go through, their relative importance and ways to engage and influence
Featured News
Transforming Local Infrastructure Fund results announced
The beneficiaries of the £30 million fund to help transform and modernise local charity support services have been announced by Nick Hurd, Minister for Civil Society.
Relaunch of Voluntary Sector Cuts Website
The Voluntary Sector Cuts website has now been relaunched with additional functionality to enable VCS organisations to records cuts to funding and their effects
Views sought on Department of Health draft statutory guidance
VSNW are requesting your views on draft statutory guidance as support for joint strategic needs assessments and health and wellbeing strategies
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VSNW’s list of events & training opportunities for VCS groups in the North West





