35p a week increase for unpaid carers is an insult, MP tells Chancellor

Local MP Tim Farron has written to the Chancellor Rishi Sunak, asking him to use next month's Budget to increase Carer's Allowance by £20 a week to match the uplift in Universal Credit during the pandemic.

It comes as the Government have announced they will only be increasing the allowance in line with inflation, working out at just an extra 35p a week.

In his letter to Mr Sunak, Tim argued that unpaid carers deserve more support for their work caring for loved ones.

Recent research from Carers UK found that unpaid carers are saving the taxpayer a £530m every day throughout this pandemic.

Writing to the Chancellor, Tim said: "We owe unpaid carers so much.

"So the news that you are set to thank them for their tireless work by increasing Carer's Allowance by a pathetic 35p a week is quite frankly an insult.

"How can you one minute stand outside Downing Street with the Prime Minister and clap for carers, and in the next think it's acceptable to reward them with an extra 5p a day?

"Rather than palm them off with this derisory rise, you should put your money where your mouth is and support carers properly, by raising Carer's Allowance by £1,000 a year immediately, in line with the uplift in Universal Credit.

"If you do really value and care about carers, you must use next month's Budget to give them the proper support they need and deserve."