UK National Audit Office publications

Work in Progress: The Department for Work and Pensions’ support for carers

Carer’s Allowance is paid to full-time carers to help look after someone with a disability. In 2006-07, 463,500 carers were in receipt of the allowance, at a total cost to the public purse of £1.2bn per year. Care provided by individuals who do not receive Carer’s Allowance has been valued at £67bn per year across the economy as a whole.

The study will assess how well Carer’s Allowance at current payment rates, and relevant DWP employment advice, meet the objective of helping full time carers look after disabled people, while helping them stay in touch with the world of work. The key issues are:

The carer’s experience of DWP services
The efficiency of the administration of Carer’s Allowance; and
The effectiveness of interaction between DWP support for carers and that available from other Government departments and from the Community and Voluntary sector.

The work will take place alongside the review of the National Strategy for Carers, announced as part of the DWP’s New Deal for Carers.

Publication Schedule

We intend to publish our report in early 2009.

Members of the NAO Team

If you have any comments or questions about the study, or would like to contribute your experience please contact the project leader:

Ruth Lewis, Audit Manager (ruth.lewis@nao.gsi.gov.uk or 0191 269 1852)

Media contacts: Donna Watson
Press Office
T: 020 7798 7038
M: 07917 555 388
Email Donna Watson through our enquiries desk; please mark your email for her attention

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