CUK is celebrating 40 years

[wendy]

It does seem unbelievable that CUK have been helping carers for 40 years and yet carers allowance is the lowest benefit there is.
I know they have got more help for carers who work, but can someone tell me what else they have done in 40 years.  I am sure there must be loads of things, but I cant think.

I am coming to the conclusion that carers allowance should be ended and in its place there should be a greater amount added to the other benefits that a carer may receive.
What do you think?

[sandy4]

Wendy

I came to the conclusion years ago that paid workers for charities worked more for their jobs and not the aims of the charity.  I asked that question of the parliamentary rep of P R T C who looked to do so little at all.  I got no reply and was banned from there by a new rule invented just for that reason. 

[Honey]

wendy, some carers receiving carers allowance are not entitled to any other benefits.

[wendy]

I have been thinking more about this
Carers could receive something like a Caring Premium on top of income support or retirement pension.
This payment would of course be the same as the minumum wage.
I have not thought what to do about carers who manage to work and care at the same time, perhaps someone else could work this out.

[wendy]

this is strange, 2014 they celebrated 40 years and now in 2015 they are saying it is their 50th birthday

[wendy]

I obviously got it wrong, last year they said that this year would be their 50th anniversary.
But looking back 50 years, I cant remember the word carer ever being used for a family carer.
Can you?

[wendy]

Did you hear the word 'carer' used 50 years ago?
I can remember hearing the word nurse.

[annie]

50 years ago, I guess many of us would not know what the word carer meant

[maureenho]

You wouldn't have thought of the word carer 50 years ago, there was no carers allowance back then.