Reducing the Benefit Cap undermines Osbornes' pledge to protect vital benefits

Carers Trust welcomes the Chancellor’s pledge to protect vital benefits paid directly to disabled and older people and to carers. However, other aspects of today’s Budget significantly undermine that commitment.

By further reducing the Benefit Cap, the Chancellor is cutting-off vital sources of financial support available to a group of carers, which helps them meet the costs of care whilst paying for their rent, food, and fuel. With carers already expected to experience a £1bn drop in the benefits available to them by 2018, this is yet another unwanted blow to their finances. We call on the government to rethink its priorities and to exempt carers from the Benefit Cap.

We’re also deeply concerned by the extent to which this Budget could restrain the ambitions of hundreds of thousands of young adult carers. This group is twice as likely as their peers to be not in education or employment due to their caring role, and is often struggling to cope with multiple demands placed on them. Removing their right to a student maintenance grant and housing benefit is likely to have a devastating effect for many, which will have an impact long into the future. We call on the government to recognise young carers as a vulnerable group who need our support - not to be punished for their caring role.