Written question asked by Vera Baird (Labour) on Tuesday, 2 May 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 8 May 2006. It was answered by Anne McGuire (Labour) on Monday, 8 May 2006 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Carers Benefits

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the levels of carers' benefits were as a proportion of average income in 1997; what they were in the last period for which figures are available; and what changes in the level of carers' benefits have occurred since 1997.

Answer: Depending on their personal circumstances, carers have access to the full range of social security benefits. In 1997-98, the average weekly amount of income maintenance benefits paid to working age carers entitled to carer's allowance was £59.741 or 22.6 per cent. of median income2 in that year. In 2004-05, the latest year for which information is available, the corresponding figure was £82.081, or 23.5 per cent. of median income2.We have increased the benefits available to carers in line with the movement in prices in every year since 1997-98. In 2001, we increased the carer premium in income support, and other income-related benefits, by an extra £10 a week. We have also increased the availability of carer's allowance by abolishing, in 2002, the age limit which precluded carers aged 65 and over from claiming carer's allowance. This change also gives older carers access to the additional amount for carers in pension credit. By linking the carer's allowance earnings limit to the level of the national insurance lower earnings limit , we have significantly increased the amount carers entitled to the benefit can earn from paid employment."1 Estimates based on the Family Resources Survey 1997-98 and 2004-05.""2 Estimates based on Family Resources Survey data and are before housing costs."

Secondary information