This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Change Carer's Allowance to pay carers minimum wage for every hour of care
I would like the Government to recognise the hard work and struggles unpaid carers go through and change Carer's Allowance to pay carers the minimum wage for every hour of care they provide. Workers are entitled to the minimum wage, and we think carers should be too.
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We feel that carers are underappreciated and under recognised, and should be entitled to the minimum wage for the care they provide, in the same that workers are entitled to the minimum wage for hours they work.
Why should carers receive less than the minimum wage for the care they provide? And if caring roles stop carers from being able to work, why should they have financial worries on top of their caring roles? We believe the current Carer's Allowance is unfair.
This petition closed early because of a General Election Find out more on the Petitions Committee website
Related activity
Carer's Allowance petition debated in Parliament
MPs debated a petition about Carer's Allowance on Monday 22 April. The debate was opened by Christina Rees MP, a member of the Petitions Committee.
What is a petitions debate?
Petitions debates are 'general' debates in Westminster Hall, which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.
Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means MPs didn't vote on the request of the petition at the end of the debate. Instead, the aim is to give MPs an opportunity to discuss the issues raised by a petition, and get a response from the Government. Petition debates are scheduled by the Petitions Committee.
Work and Pensions Committee investigates Carer's Allowance
The Work and Pensions Committee have held two 'evidence sessions' with experts and the Government Minister for Disabled People on the effectiveness of Carer’s Allowance and the support it provides for carers.
The Work and Pensions Committee is a cross-party group of MPs that look into the work of the Department for Work and Pensions. Find out more about the Committee.
An evidence session is an oral hearing where key stakeholders, such as Ministers or campaigners, answer questions on a particular topic. They help MPs on the committee to gain a deeper understanding of the topic.
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