Northern Ireland Carers left in limbo

However there is no immediate financial help for the hundreds of thousands of carers who rely on benefits, which would have helped carers in Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK.

Commenting on the strategy, Helen Ferguson Director of Carers Northern Ireland expressed her disappointment that the opportunity to improve carers’ benefits has not been grasped. 

“We acknowledge that a full review of carers’ benefits has been promised. However we are disappointed that the Government has been unable to offer immediate financial help.  Many carers will be frustrated that they will have to wait again for the financial help they desperately need. We will be asking the Government to begin the review immediately.”

Carers Northern Ireland would be very keen to see some of the measures announced today, such as increased money for social services to provide carers breaks and carer awareness training for GPs, replicated in Northern Ireland. 

“We are pleased that Michael McGimpsey and Margaret Richie have already announced that DSD and DHSSPS will be holding a joint review of support services for carers in Northern Ireland.  It will give government departments here a chance to think about how our Northern Ireland strategies measure up, and how we can make sure that carers in Northern Ireland have the best possible back up.”

Carers who want to find out the current position on carers’ benefits and other support that may be available can contact Carers Northern Ireland on 028 9043 9843 (10am-12noon and 2pm-3pm) or info@carersni.org for their free Carers Rights Pack.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1.  The measures announced in the Strategy add up to over £255 million. The Strategy
can be downloaded from http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/SocialCare/Deliveringadultsocialcare/Carers/NewDealforCarers/index.htm

2.  There are 185,000 carers in Northern Ireland. The value of the unpaid care they provide is  £3.12 billion each year.

3.      Carer’s Allowance is £50.55 for a minimum of 35 hours caring per week. If a carer earns more than £95 per week or studies for more than 21 hours per week they can no longer receive Carer’s Allowance.

4.      Carers Northern Ireland is part of Carers UK, the UK’s leading organisation of carers.  It exists to improve carers’ lives.  It provides local information to carers, supports carers groups, advises professionals who work with carers and campaigns for a better deal for carers.  For more information visit www.carersni.org

5.  Carers UK’s Real Change not Short Change campaign is calling on Government to radically overhaul the benefits system for carers. Carers UK research found that thee-quarters of carers are worse off since becoming a carer and many go without essential items.