House of Commons

Session 2007-08 Publications on the internet Work and Pensions Committee Publications

Work and Pensions - Fourth Report Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 21 July 2008. Contents Terms of Reference Summary 1  Introduction The Government's policy on carers The inquiry Carers in Britain: who are they? Carers - definition Carers by age Carers by employment status Diversity among carers Key public policy issues Demographic change Recognising and responding to carers Diversity of circumstances Tackling the social exclusion carers face Opportunity penalties: confidence, skills and employment DWP's approach to carers 2  Information, advice and guidance Quality of DWP services Benefit Enquiry Line, leaflets, Directgov DWP advice staff Merger of the Pension Service and the Disability and Carers Service Appointeeship Working with other agencies Welfare benefits advice and healthcare "Information prescriptions" National telephone helpline Carers' Centres 3  Carers' income and benefits Impact of caring on earnings income Cost of disability and caring Carers' benefits The history and design of Carer's Allowance Carer's Allowance - amount Carer's Allowance - underlying entitlements Take-up of DLA One CA claim to one DLA/AA claim Qualifying periods De-linking carers' and disability benefits: certification scheme for carers Carer's Allowance - overlapping entitlements Impact of overlapping entitlements on Carer's Allowance Impact of the Carer's Allowance on the person being cared for Carer's Allowance: incentives to work, study and volunteer 21 hour study rule Carer's Allowance - earnings limit Carer's allowance - earnings limit (means-tested benefits) Barriers to carers' engagement, volunteering and employment Passive benefit Replacing Carer's Allowance Proposal for a two-tiered benefit Concession cards Impact of caring responsibilities on pensions State Pension Personal Accounts 4  Support for caring Access to information about social care and services for carers Access to social care support Social care funding Support for balancing caring and employment Employers' support for caring Family future planning for care 5  Employment and training strategy for carers Impact of caring on employment of carers Impact of caring on former carers' employability The Government's employment strategy IB/ESA: impact on carers Flexible working Lack of awareness Fear of rejection Type of flexible working arrangements Proposals to extend right to request flexible working Jobcentre Plus support for flexible working Jobcentre Plus support for self-employment Time off and Statutory Care Pay Financial incentives Working Tax Credit for carers (at 16 hours) Working Tax Credit and caring (child care costs) 6  Equality, recognition and discrimination Formal recognition of carers The role of equality law Single Equality Act Human Rights Conclusions and recommendations Annex A Committee Visit Notes Note of the Committee visit to Australia Introduction Government provision for carers The Policy Challenge: carers and workforce participation The South Australian model Carers' stories Annex B: Background statistics on carers Formal Minutes Witnesses List of written evidence Oral and Written Evidence Wednesday 7 May 2008 Wednesday 21 May 2008 Wednesday 18 June 2008 Written Evidence

© Parliamentary copyright 2008	Prepared 21 July 2008