Chill4us response to the Green paper. Welfare

[wendy]

http://www.dwp.gov.uk:80/welfarereform/ ... stions.rtf

Response from Chill4Us.com to the Green Paper: No one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility

Chill4us.com is an Internet based support group run by Carers for Carers.





Question 22: Is a system based on a single overarching benefit the right long-term aspiration? How could a simpler system be structured so as to meet varying needs and responsibilities?

Chill4us.com believes that a single benefit is not the right way to go, and that it would further erode the status of Carers.




Question 23: Would moving carers currently on IS onto JSA be a suitable way of helping them to access the support available to help combine caring with paid work or preparing for paid work?

Chill4us.com does not agree that those on Income Support and Carers Allowance should be transferred to Jobseekers Allowance.

There are millions of Carers in the UK making a very responsible contribution to society which would cost £bn's to replace.

Chill4us.com asks that these people who show responsibility by their caring get their just reward by increasing benefits to a liveable amount.


Some Carers over retirement age may want to seek additional work whilst Caring, the presented Reforms take no account of this.




Chill4us asks for the overlapping benefit rules to be done away with.

Chill4us wants a heating allowance for carers because many carers have to use their heating throughout the summer and winter.

Chill4us asks that there will be a substantial delay after the caree dies before the carer is contacted by the DWP.  An adjustment time of one year would be more acceptable.


To summarise


Carers Allowance and Income Support to stay

Carers Allowance payments to be increased.

Acknowledge Carers special status for Benefits.

Remove the Overlapping Benefits rule.

Pay Carers Allowance beyond state retirement age and for carers who care for more than one disabled person or child.

Heating allowance for Carers.

Extended time to one year after a carer dies before caree is contacted by DWP.


Contact us

© Chill4us.com 2008

[wendy]

Please feel free to correct anything here, because I will be sending this off today.
Please let me know.
Wendy

[HotSheila]

Think you've got it in a nutshell Wendy - good luck.  Sheila x

[wendy]

With grateful thanks to Ian.

[ians1]

Hopefully they might get the message.

ian

[douglas]

dont count on it ian it goes in one ear
and out the other

[ians1]

[wendy]

Thank you for your email.

This mailbox is for responses to the 2008 Welfare Reform Green Paper Consultation No one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility.

Due to the volume of responses we are unable to reply directly, but your comments will be forwarded to the Green Paper consultation team.  If you have contacted us to request a printed or alternative format copy of the Green Paper we will send this out to you shortly.

A report will be published within 3 months of the closing date summarising the responses and outlining the government's planned next steps.  This will be available on the internet at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform.

[chenrezig]

[ians1]

[ians1]

[wendy]

[ians1]

[Honey]

[ians1]

[ians1]

[graham]

& what is your conclusion Ian ?  : Because I  ( & I suspect 99% of the people here ) would not know where to start with that lot !...........

[wendy]

[ians1]

I think we added some weight to the already strident voices of others who complained about the abolition of Carers Allowance.

No specific mentions as far as I can see.

The main part of the response is the White Paper, which will become law as it is debated in the Commons.

There are still several opportunities for it to be amended, and of course it will need approval in the Lords.

If you feel that Carers are insufficiently catered for in the latest reforms (this White Paper) then write your MP via writetothem.com and tell him/her that you are not happy, request they ask the minister (Purnell) to complete a full and fair review of Carers benefits.

ian.