Politics
MHK’s Bid for Carer’s Allowance Uplift
Carer’s allowance is currently £155.35 per week
The Treasury has no plans to review carer’s allowance, even for those who care for more than one individual.
Dr Alex Allinson was asked about the policy by Douglas East MHK Joney Faragher.
The Manx Labour Party Leader asked Dr Allinson whether his department will commit to uplifting Carer’s Allowance for people who care for multiple people; and how his department plans to use the State of Caring in the Isle of Man 2022 report to inform all options for Carer’s Allowance.
The Treasury Minister said that the ‘earnings replacement benefit’, to give it its full name, is a ‘pillar of the social security system that where a person experiences an interruption in their employment and has consequently lost earnings they should be “compensated” only once for their loss of earnings, by way of an earnings replacement benefit’.
As a result, he said, people can’t receive both carer’s allowance and incapacity benefit.
He also noted that carer’s allowance was increase on the island by 15% in April 2022 and a further £15 a week in April to bring it to £155.35 per week, is ‘now more than double the rate payable in England & Wales (£76.75pw)’.
Dr Allinson said: ‘Treasury currently has no plans to change the rules for carer’s allowance. I am not aware of any plans the UK Government may have to review it.
‘It should be noted that a person can now earn up to £180.00 a week without it affecting their entitlement to carer’s allowance, compared to £139.00pw in England and Wales.’
