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Rennie takes up battle for carers' rights with Minister
August 23, 2006 2:22 PM
Local Liberal Democrat MP, Willie Rennie, has secured a meeting with Work and Pensions Minister, Anne McGuire. He will use the opportunity to criticise Government rules which end Carer's Allowance for those in receipt of Bereavement Allowance, even when the carer's commitments have not changed.
The local MP said:
"This is a basic issue of fairness and compassion. Carer's Allowance and Bereavement Allowance are very different benefits and it is unacceptable for this Government to suggest otherwise. I will ask the Minister to demonstrate the Government's commitment to Britain's 6 million unpaid carers by changing the rules on Carer's Allowance.
"I will tell the Minister that Carer's Allowance is intended to replace the lost income of a carer who cannot work full-time because of their caring commitments. Bereavement Allowance, on the other hand, helps to support widows and widowers by replacing the lost income from their deceased spouse for one year. As they are intended to replace different incomes, they should not be subject to the Government's rules on overlapping benefits.
"By the Government's own admission, it would only cost about £3 million to change the current rules. However, it would offer real benefits for many carers across the country."
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