Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Deferred
Require the Casey Commission to establish a workstream to reduce pressures on unpaid carers.
Recommendation
We recommend that the Casey Commission includes a specific workstream dedicated to reducing the pressures on carers, especially young carers. This workstream should consider how to support unpaid carers better, to ensure they get the respite they need and to look after their own health and wellbeing. It should also consider how businesses could be better incentivised to employ and support unpaid carers. (Recommendation, Paragraph 48) Costs to the care system
Government response summary AI-generated
The government agrees with the recommendation but deflects by detailing £9 billion in Better Care Fund funding for 2025-2026, which focuses on prevention and community care, rather than committing to a specific Casey Commission workstream for carers.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government · verbatim extract
Deferred
As above, the commission will start a national conversation about what care and support working-age disabled adults, older people and their families should expect from adult social care, including exploring the needs of unpaid carers who provide vital care and support. However, the government recognises the immense contribution of carers and young carers and is acting now to improve support for families. From April 2025, the government increased the Carer’s Allowance weekly earnings limit from £151 a week to £196 - the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage. This represents the largest increase in the earnings limit since Carer’s Allowance was introduced in 1976 and the highest percentage increase since 2001. We also recognise that many unpaid carers can face challenges balancing employment with caring. The government is reviewing the implementation of Carer’s Leave and examining the benefits of introducing paid Carer’s Leave.
Read the full response on Parliament ↗