Highlighting Carers’ Difficulties
This is a guest post by Rumbold, who is a regular contributor to Pickled Politics, where this was originally posted today. Thanks to Rumbold.
Recently I wrote about the problems facing many disabled children in obtaining help from the state. Now an article has highlighted some of the issues faced by carers too. I think that the following is especially relevant:
As a carer, I have had to reduce my paid working hours to cope with all these extra demands on my time. Because I earn more than a pittance I am not eligible for carer’s allowance – or anything else from our local authority. If he could get a job, my husband would not be eligible for disabled person’s working tax credits. This feels like “heads we lose, tails they win.”
Once again, this is a barrier to work. Many disabled adults have the same problem. They want to work longer, but know that they cannot cope with the withdrawal of their disability benefits. Whilst no system can be perfect, surely one can be devised which allows disabled people and carers to work for longer and earn what they want without losing their benefits? Carers probably cannot work full-time because there would be questions about whether or not they could be classified as carers, but it would be good if the system was made more flexible. Many disabled people face enough problems as it is, whether from abuse or misinformation.
Same Difference 