To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps she is taking to support unpaid carers in rural areas.
Answered on
11 March 2025
Local authorities are best placed to understand and plan for the needs of their population, which is why, under the Care Act 2014, they are tasked with the duty to shape their care market to meet the diverse needs of all local people.
The Government is committed to giving families the support that they need. I recently met with the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets in the Department for Business and Trade, and the Minister of State for Social Security and Disability in the Department for Work and Pensions to look at how we can work together more closely to support unpaid carers.
The Government has already taken steps to support unpaid carers. From April 2025 we are increasing the Carer's Allowance weekly earnings limit from £151 a week to £196. This means carers can earn up to £10,000 a year whilst still retaining Carer's Allowance; this is approximately an additional £2,000 a year.
The Accelerating Reform Fund’s (ARF) second tranche of funding worth £22.6 million for 2024/25 has also been released. More than half of the ARF projects, and at least one in each integrated care system area are focussed on identifying, recognising and supporting unpaid carers.
The Government recognises the challenges facing the adult social care system. That is why we are launching an independent commission into adult social care as part of our critical first steps towards delivering a National Care Service.
The Commission will start a national conversation about what working age adults, older people, and their families expect from adult social care, including exploring the needs of unpaid carers who provide vital care and support.