Select committee: Work and Pensions Committee
Carer’s Allowance
Closed
Opened 26 Feb 2024
Closed 23 May 2024
Work and Pensions Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The Committee heard in its Benefit Levels in the UK inquiry that Carer’s Allowance (CA) is an “antiquated system” in need of modernisation. Witnesses to that inquiry raised several challenges in evidence, relating to the payment rate of CA, eligibility criteria, the ability to work, accessibility, interaction with other benefits and overpayments. Our predecessor Committee considered Carer’s Allowance in its May 2018 Report, Employment support for carers , and its July 2019 Report, Overpayments of Carer’s Allowance . Given that DWP is considering making changes to Carer’s Allowance, this session is an opportunity for us to explore claimant’s experience of Carer’s Allowance and how CA should be modernised.
Where it stands
The inquiry is closed, opened 26 February 2024.
The committee has not published a report yet.
Evidence
- 2 oral evidence sessionsLatest 24 April 2024
- 12 witnesses
Recent activity
- Correspondence with the National Audit Office relating to Carer's Allowance22 May 2024, Correspondence
- Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to Carer's Allowance16 May 2024, Correspondence
- Work and Pensions Committee24 April 2024, Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 24 Apr 2024 |
Work and Pensions Committee
Alek-Zander Chullan-Hoyte,
Andrew Latto · Department for Work and Pensions,
Andy McGowan · Carers Trust,
Becca Lacey · St George’s University of London,
Mims Davies MP · Department for Work and Pensions,
Vikki Knight · Department of Work and Pensions
|
View ↗ |
| 6 Mar 2024 |
Work and Pensions Committee
Cristina Odone · Centre for Social Justice,
Fiona Collie · Carers Scotland,
Gary Vaux · Hertfordshire County Council,
Professor Sue Yeandle · University of Sheffield,
Tamara Sandoul · Carers UK,
Terry Kirton
|
View ↗ |
Who gave evidence
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| Witness | Organisation | Sessions |
|---|---|---|
| Alek-Zander Chullan-Hoyte | Not recorded | 1 |
| Andrew Latto · Deputy Director, Devolution, Pensioner Benefits & Carer’s Allowance, Policy Group | Department for Work and Pensions | 1 |
| Andy McGowan · Policy and Practice Manager | Carers Trust | 1 |
| Becca Lacey · Reader in Social and Lifecourse Epidemiology | St George’s University of London | 1 |
| Cristina Odone · Head of Family | Centre for Social Justice | 1 |
| Fiona Collie · Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Scotland & Northern Ireland | Carers Scotland | 1 |
| Gary Vaux · Head of Money Advice | Hertfordshire County Council | 1 |
| Mims Davies MP · Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Employment) | Department for Work and Pensions | 1 |
| Professor Sue Yeandle · Principal Investigator, ESRC Centre for Care and Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Care & Caring | University of Sheffield | 1 |
| Tamara Sandoul · Head of Policy and Public Affairs | Carers UK | 1 |
| Terry Kirton | Not recorded | 1 |
| Vikki Knight · Director of Fraud, Error and Debt Strategy | Department of Work and Pensions | 1 |
Correspondence
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| Published | Direction | Letter |
|---|---|---|
| 22 May 2024 | Not recorded | Correspondence with the National Audit Office relating to Carer's Allowance |
| 16 May 2024 | Not recorded | Correspondence with the Secretary of State relating to Carer's Allowance |