Posted on 06/09/2024 10:05:59 AM PDT by RandFan
The Liberal Democrats will commit to a £1.5bn overhaul of carer’s allowance, including a £20-a-week boost for more than 1 million people who devote their lives to looking after frail, ill and disabled loved ones, in their general election manifesto.
An ongoing Guardian investigation has revealed that tens of thousands of unpaid carers have been forced by the government to pay back huge sums – and in some cases have faced criminal prosecution – for minor and accidental breaches of carer’s allowance earnings rules.
Proposed reforms to be unveiled on Monday by the Lib Dem leader, Ed Davey, will include a write-off of £250m of carer’s allowance overpayment debts run up by more than 100,000 carers, and measures to help carers earn more through part-time paid work.
Davey, who is a carer himself, said the proposals were designed to give family carers a fair deal and put a stop to what he called the “shameful hounding” of unpaid carers by the Department for Work and Pensions
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
These are expensive policies but the Lib Dems have decided to go big on this. Their leader cares for his son and their election material mentions this.
A smart move considering?
They could end up as opposition if it comes off!
Probably makes more political sense (even if not true) than promising to send another $50B to Ukraine.
They’re taking a political gamble that you don’t often see.
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