Carer’s Allowance payments to go up 10.1 percent

The support currently provides £69.70 a week for eligible people who care for someone for 35 hours a week or more. Legislation outlines that benefits are supposed to increase with the September figure for inflation, which was 10.1 percent, and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt confirmed this will go ahead.Carer’s Allowance will increase by 10.1 percent from next April, with weekly payments to increase to £76.74, which is just over £300 a month, from next year.However, many Britons who rely on benefits to boost their income face a difficult winter of soaring prices for energy and other essentials before the payment increases kick in.Richard Lane, director of External Affairs at StepChange Debt Charity, said: ‘After weeks of uncertainty, confirmation from the Chancellor today that benefits will be uprated in line with inflation, and cost of living support will continue beyond April will be welcomed by millions of households facing a difficult winter.’With the news that inflation has now reached 11 percent, this support will soften the impact, particularly as the current cap on typical household energy bills is due to be lifted from the spring.READ MORE: Inflation soars to 11.1% in new 40-year-high Carer’s Allowance is to increase by 10.1 percent next year (Image: GETTY/SKY NEWS)’The rise in the living wage will also go some way to offset soaring inflation which tends to affect those on the lowest incomes most acutely.’While the Government’s announcements are welcome, it’s far from clear that the support offered will be enough to prevent rising financial difficulty and hardship this winter.’Those who receive means-tested benefits are facing the biggest fall in real income and will be exposed to hardship and destitution.’The Government can ease pressures on these households by stopping unaffordable deductions from Universal Credit for government debts like historic tax credit overpayments.DON’T MISSRishi Sunak warned ditching pension triple lock would be ‘unpopular’ [LATEST]520,000 people set to miss out on state pension triple lock increase [UPDATE]State pension triple lock may be scrapped for ‘hefty savings’ [INSIGHT] Universal Credit is also to increase by 10.1 percent (Image: EXPRESS)The person who provides the care must do so for at least 35 hours a week.The care can include help with washing or cooking, taking the person to doctor’s appointments or help with household tasks like managing bills.Pensioners cannot get the full amount of both Carer’s Allowance and the state pension at the same time.Those whose pension is £69.70 or more cannot get the allowance while those whose pension is less than this can get the payment, equal to the difference.