Social Security Benefits: Carers

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of (a) the number of carers working more than 35 hours per week in the UK and (b) the percentage of carers claiming (i) the carer’s allowance, (ii) income support, (iii) jobseeker’s allowance and (iv) the carer’s premium. (127559)

It is estimated that there are approximately 1.08 million informal carers in Great Britain who provide care for more than 35 hours per week.¹

Approximately 8 per cent. of the estimated total of 5.7 million informal carers are receiving carer’s allowance, 4 per cent. are receiving the carer premium in income support, and 0.1 per cent. are receiving the carer premium in income-based jobseeker’s allowance.²

¹ Source:

Family Resources Survey 2004-05. It should be noted that the Family Resources Survey generates a lower estimate of the total number of carers than the Census, which is used to answer the second part of this Question. In consequence, the answers to the separate parts of the Question are not directly comparable.

² Source:

Census 2001 and Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study, August 2006.

Figures shown are for Great Britain, not the UK, as the benefits discussed are payable in Great Britain. There are overlaps between those in receipt of carer’s allowance and the other premiums.