Caring - Epetition Government Reply!!
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By Maryann
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Wed 21 Nov 2007 22:02
Caring - epetition reply 21 November 2007
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to Increase Carers Allowance to better reward those who save the country money by their actions."
Details of Petition:
"The amount of Cares Allowance does not reflect the contribution in money terms made by the people who receive it. They save Nursing costs and Personal Care costs well in excess of the weekly amount which is at present just over £46 a week."
Read the petition
Petitions home page
Read the Government's responseThank you for your petition that closed on 17 February 2007 concerning Carer's Allowance. I am sorry for the lengthy delay in replying.The Government does recognise that the care in the community arrangements rely to a great extent on the tremendous personal commitment of those people who are prepared to give their time so freely to their caring role.
Our social security system is one of the very few that has a benefit specifically for carers. The Government do recognise however that Carer's Allowance does not cover lost earnings nor fully compensate people for the time that they spend in such important supportive care. However, carers with limited resources can receive more substantial help from Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit and Pension Credit for those aged 60 and over.
All of these can all be paid at higher rates for carers. The basic Pension Credit guarantee of £114.05 for single pensioners and £174.05 for couples is increased by £26.35 where the additional amount for carers is payable.
Carers now have opportunity to build or to continue to build entitlement to the State Second Pension. In addition, carers will benefit from the proposal in our recent White Paper on Pensions reform to move to 30 qualifying years for a full basic State Pension for people reaching State Pension age on or after 6 April 2010.
The Government are also aware that carers need practical help and the Carers Grant was introduced in 1999 to support councils in providing breaks and services for carers in England. It is worth £185million this year and next year and this means that the Government will have invested over £1billion in support for carers by 2008.
You may be interested to know that, Carer's Allowance, together with many other issues, is being examined as part of the cross-Government review of the National Strategy for Carers, led by the Department of Health. The findings are due to be published in March next year.
Replies
- By morello
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Re: Caring - Epetition Government Reply!!
Thu 22 Nov 2007 09:14Oh please pass the sick bucket
Mo
- By KenM
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Re: Caring - Epetition Government Reply!!
Thu 22 Nov 2007 15:17Yes Mo--sick is right.
Come March it could be even sicker-because I would not be surprised to see CA being scrapped and replaced by something to make it easier for them to get all disabled and carers back into work. You only have to look at the proposed new test for work suitability-ie-anybody who can use a computer is fit for work?
Let's not forget either that this and anything else will get the usual "welcome" from the PRTC and CUK.
- By SocialHeretic
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Re: Caring - Epetition Government Reply!!
Thu 22 Nov 2007 15:47Don't forget the vested interests advising the Government who will benefit if carers' basic needs to be carers are not addressed.
Bang go future honors \ salaries and pensions \ prestige \ back handers from future " Care in the Community " contracts \ research grants \ luncheons \ hotel accommodation \ trips to meetings abroad etc.etc. .... yes , a whole industry built on the backs of carers.
Meanwhile , carers will continue to prevent the total collapse of Social ( non ) Care in this country ....... but for how much longer. It is physically impossible to ask a 24 \ 7 carer to work 25 \ 8 ....... no doubt , someone somewhere is working on this little problem.
Carers have only themselves to blame for ..... being carers ?
Let's all hope that a severe winter doesn't bring the System crashing down. Meanwhile , a crash course in carpentry would be recommended. After all , coffin makers may well be in short supply ...... for carers \ carees alike !
- By morello
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Re: Caring - Epetition Government Reply!!
Thu 22 Nov 2007 16:49Lets face the fact the Government dont care , they can come up with as many platitudes as they like , but we are treated no better than the Japs treated their POWs Whilst MPs sit in their nice cosy seat heated Hof C we sit and freeze. While they get driven around in their gas guzzlers, we walk if we can or stay in. While they enjoy free lunches on tax payers money we starve. They have no thought for anyone but themselves and they are all the same as soon as they are voted in. Its allME ME ME and damn the carers. Here you are a means tested pittance and you dont deserve a life for wht you do. Taking all the people we care for by coach and dropping them off in Downing street may show them, but no, they would leave them to freeze. No more money would have to be found then would it.
Mo
- By Pysie
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Re: Caring - Epetition Government Reply!!
Thu 22 Nov 2007 22:58I find it incredible that the government can find £42 billion to prop up Northern Rock and re-imburse its shareholders and investors (with the knowlege this money might never be recouped) and yet they cannot safe-guard the savings of those who are forced to give up work in order to care full time, or re-imburse those carers who save the country £87 billion per year!
- By morello
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Re: Caring - Epetition Government Reply!!
Fri 23 Nov 2007 08:54I find nothing incredible about it, they probably have a vested interest in it themselves they wouldnt tell us. Most MPs have high ranking "jobs" the sort that you occasionall pop in and pop out to show your face and get your nice fat wage. They are all hypocrits of the highest degree,I just hope that millions dont rush out to buy T. Blairs book ,do we really want to read about their hard life counting their pounds and sending meaningless replies to their constituents well!!!
Mo
- By CHERYL THE PERIL
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Re: Caring - Epetition Government Reply!!
Fri 23 Nov 2007 09:22Hi All
42 Billion to Northern Rock, an American owned business so I've heard.26 Billion for a new Military Academy in Wales
How many Billions for Trident?
How many Billions for the Olympic Games?
500 Million pledge to Palistine ?
Millions spent in Afghanistan on regeneration programmes?
The war in Iraq is costing Millions per day?
Millions sent to disaster funds all around the world.
Spend money on Impoverished, Homeless , Cold, Hungry , Ill Carers in this country and they say they can't afford it?????
- By morello
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Re: Caring - Epetition Government Reply!!
Fri 23 Nov 2007 11:33Maybe we dont kick up enough fuss, go on marches, actually have an MP who says they are with us and wont stand up and say so to those that matter. What is so scary about us ? Maybe a threat to down tools and deposit the people we love on the nearest hospital, care home or DWP and go . Of cours eleave instructions. I think there would be a massive outbreak of dysentry from these people. If we are sick we carry on we have no choice. We dont go home at the end of the day and relax, we dont sleep, we dont have holidays , we dont eat, we dont keep warm. What will they do when they have to bury us prematurely.Kill off the caree. We are isolated with no friends so nobody else will miss us. This government needs a kick up the rear and we need a large enough mouth to speak up for us. There must be more than just wimps out there with some clout, maybe not. Thats how it feels.
Mo
- By Pysie
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Re: Caring - Epetition Government Reply!!
Fri 23 Nov 2007 12:14And now we have the crisis of bed-blocking in hospitals because there aren't enough carers to look after people in the community when they are discharged. It is said the reason there are not enough carers is that they aren't paid enough - they only get a minimum wage!!!
Perhaps if the government gave 'unpaid' carers reasonable financial support, more families would be prepared to look after their friends and relatives and local authorites/PRTCs would not need to employ so many carers?
By the way, why did it take the government 10 months to reply to this petition???
- By morello
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Re: Caring - Epetition Government Reply!!
Fri 23 Nov 2007 15:05Well to the latter question I would say they have one brain cell between them and that is used to make sure "I am alright Jack" They may wake up and realise just how much we do have to do to stop the Welfare State collapsing in a heap
Mo