The government does not adequately support the role of carers in society and the financial benefits carers receive are ‘unnecessarily complex and cause confusion’, MPs have said.
A report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee found that the Department for Work and Pensions does not know how many carers are receiving carer’s allowance, which costs £23bn a year. Because of this, it cannot assess how effectively it is reaching people who might be entitled to claim.
PAC chair Edward Leigh said: ‘Carers who apply for benefits should not have to wade through official written guidance and communications, which can range from the hard to understand to the downright incomprehensible.’
A report by the Commons Public Accounts Committee found that the Department for Work and Pensions does not know how many carers are receiving carer’s allowance, which costs £23bn a year. Because of this, it cannot assess how effectively it is reaching people who might be entitled to claim.
PAC chair Edward Leigh said: ‘Carers who apply for benefits should not have to wade through official written guidance and communications, which can range from the hard to understand to the downright incomprehensible.’
