Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has accused Rishi Sunak of treating family carers with “disdain,” after they were left out of the government’s cost of living package.
The Carer’s Allowance was excluded from the list of benefits qualifying for additional support under the plans set out by the Chancellor yesterday.
It comes as new analysis by the Liberal Democrats shows unpaid carers are facing a cut to the Carer’s Allowance of £207 each this year once soaring inflation is factored in. It means the country’s one million unpaid carers receiving the Carer’s Allowance are facing a combined hit of £193 million this year.
The Government is increasing Carer’s Allowance by 3.1% from £67.60 a week to £69.70, or an increase of just 30p a day, despite inflation rocketing to 9% in April.
The Liberal Democrats are calling for the Carer’s Allowance to be increased by £1,000 a year.
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “Rishi Sunak is treating family carers with utter disdain by refusing to offer them extra support.
“Family carers are facing huge pressures right now as petrol prices, energy bills and food prices all go through the roof. They are playing a vital role caring for loved ones, but their only reward from this Conservative government is to see the Carer’s Allowance slashed by over £200 this year.
“It is typical of the Conservatives who time and again have ignored the plight of family carers and treated them like dirt.
“The Chancellor needs to make one more U-turn and give unpaid carers the extra support they deserve.
“Unlike this out of touch government, the Liberal Democrats will stand for carers with our calls to increase the Carers’ Allowance by £1,000 a year.”