Key workers are being pushed to “quit” their jobs to avoid financial penalties for breaking a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rule. DWP Carer’s Allowance recipients, including those working in education, have been compelled to leave their roles.
A report by the charity Carers UK has highlighted that claimants are resigning from their positions, reducing their work hours, and declining pay increases due to the Carer’s Allowance ‘cliff edge’, which results in a benefit cut if earnings exceed the set limit.
Additionally, claimants are rejecting one-time cost of living payments, performance bonuses, and even volunteering free hours each month. Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, commented: “It is heartbreaking to hear of instances where thousands of pounds of debts have been accumulated. This has been going on for years and not enough has been done by government to fundamentally change the situation. It simply cannot continue.”
Sir Stephen Timms has taken on the role of minister responsible for this benefit. Mr Timms lauded the efforts of unpaid carers, stating that without their contribution in aiding vulnerable individuals, the UK would “grind to a halt”.
“We recognise the challenges they are facing and we are determined to provide unpaid carers with the support they deserve,” he remarked. He further mentioned: “Meeting organisations like Carers UK and individual carers and hearing their views and experiences is key to helping us to establish the facts and make informed decisions.”, reports Birmingham Live.
“With respect to overpayments of carer’s allowance, we are moving quickly to understand exactly what has gone wrong so we can set out our plan to put things right,” stated the new DWP boss Liz Kendall, expressing her concern that errors could still be occurring.
“If you go in your overdraft, your bank immediately tells you, we should be able to do that for these payments. I know people will be absolutely desperate about it. And I want to make sure we do everything to put it right,” she added.