Have your say to recognise caring work & everyone’s right to benefits!

Dear friends,

Your views and support are needed on new proposals for the benefits system from the Commission on Social Security, a claimants’ panel.  Please share this with your friends and networks.

Responses to the questionnaire needed by 31 October

Disabled mothers and family carers on the Commission, including us, pressed for proposals to include a living wage for carers of disabled people.  And to extend this to mothers. A living wage would recognise the unwaged work which mothers and other carers do, including disabled women ourselves, to ensure the survival and welfare of people of all ages. The COVID-19 crisis has brought this out.  

Unwaged caring work for older and disabled people saves the government £132 billion a year. But Carer’s Allowance is a pittance, denying the needs and entitlements of people who do this work for loved ones, and our right as older and younger disabled people to have proper support for the trusted relatives and friends whom we want to care for us.  The lack of financial recognition puts a strain on our relationships. Also, unfair rules deny Carers Allowance to thousands of people.   Widespread discrimination in the benefits system, including racism, denies rightful benefits to many more of us. Those who take on caring responsibilities struggle in financial hardship. That’s why we support a living wage for all who do caring work.

Please look at Question 5. Carer’s Allowance where it says:

“Some thought that Carer’s Allowance should be the Living Wage. . .

Some Commissioners say it should be available to people who care for children under 18”. 

We urge you to support both these proposals, and also: 

• Abolition of “No Recourse to Public Funds”, for benefit rights and the right to work for those of us who are immigrant. (Watch the video to end this discrimination in the Domestic Abuse Bill in Parliament.)
• Abolition of the two-child limit under Universal Credit and tax credits
• Benefit protection for women and children fleeing domestic violence
• No benefit sanctions or work conditions for benefit for anyone
• Ending the hated Work Capability Assessment and PIP test for disability benefits
• Social care to be free instead of charges taken from disability benefit

The Commission on Social Security questionnaire is online now till 31 October, in Easy Read and BSL. Fill it in here. It is anonymous so you do not need to give your name, but if you want to stay in touch with them, you can put your email address.

Please share your replies with us, take a screenshot or email us with the views you gave.

Thank you for taking part. We look forward to getting a copy of your comments.

WinVisible