Supporting carers to care: report by the Comptroller and Auditor General

There are six million unpaid carers in the UK who look after relatives, friends, children or older people who are sick or disabled. The number of carers is growing and the Department for Work and Pensions (the Department) estimates that the number of carers it supports will increase by about a quarter by 2014-15. The nature of care obligations varies. Care may be provided throughout life, during a chronic condition, over distinct periods, or towards the end of a person’s life. Appendix One provides examples of caring responsibilities from our survey of carers.

The Department is responsible for providing two main forms of support to carers – payment of carers’ benefits and provision of employment support, through Jobcentre Plus offices. The Department provides Carer’s Allowance at £50.55 per week to 481,000 carers. To be paid this benefit, carers must earn no more than £95 per week after allowable expenses, care for at least 35 hours a week for a person receiving Disability Living Allowance Care Component at the middle or highest rate, Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance, and not be in receipt of certain other benefits that overlap. Appendix Two gives further details about the eligibility criteria for Carer’s Allowance, and its interaction with other benefits. The Glossary gives a definition of selected terms.