Stockport Carers lose £11,000 a year in earnings

6.16.00pm GMT Thu 6th Dec 2007

Carers of the disabled and terminally ill are at risk of losing out on £11,000 a year according to a new report say local MPs, Andrew Stunell and Mark Hunter. The Stockport MPs are teaming up to pledge their support for the 22,000 carers in the town this Friday on Carers' Rights Day.

Commenting on the report launched for Carers' Rights Day, Out of Pocket, Mr Stunell said:

"These shocking new statistics reveal the full extent of the burden that Carers face. Thousands of people providing this vital community services are being forced to suffer financial and emotional hardship because of a lack of assistance. It is a disgraceful indictment of the value that the Government gives to caring for the sick and less able.

"We need a complete overhaul of the way Carers are treated, with more information and advice available, more flexibility in the work place and more support overall."

Mr Hunter added:

"Carers play a critical role in our community, without them the NHS and social care would collapse. Carers work incredibly hard and their own health and finances often suffer because of it. The Government needs to do more to care for the carers."

"The thousands of carers in our area deserve our full support. The Government is simply failing to take care of the people that care for so many people in our local area, this needs to be remedied now."

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. Financial compensation through the Carer's Allowance benefit - provided a carer is eligible by earning under £95 a week - is currently £48.65 a week.

2. Currently some one in five Carers have to give up work to care.

3. Nearly 45 per cent of Carers say they would like to work, but more than a third say they cannot do so without the right support services

4. The theme of Carers Rights Day 2007, which is run by Carers UK, is 'Caring Costs'. Countrywide, a record number of nearly 1,200 groups have signed up to take part in events and activities.

5. For more information please see www.carersuk.org