Why on earth should my pension affect my Carer's Allowance, Mr Brown?

09/01/2008

I am writing in response to your suggestions for Gordon Brown. I draw attention to the payment of Carer’s Allowance, which is denied to many, many people carrying out the responsibilities of caring to sick relatives and the like. I quote the statement given to me from a D.W.P office when I applied: "If  I was in receipt of the State Pension I could not apply as the State Pension is regarded as benefit."

Firstly the Pension is not, in my opinion, a "benefit" as this was contributed to, out of one’s salary at source for all of one’s working life. This is a fearful anomaly affecting thousands of carers like me who save the NHS an enormous sum of money, and I can assure those concerned in Government that it is a most onerous and expensive task caring for a sick person in one’s home unaided.

I have read a number of letters in various journals expressing the same views as I mention here, and this anomaly needs to be addressed as soon as possible. The State Pension should have no bearing on the Carer’s Allowance.

Mr. W Kuy, Lymington