Date of meeting: 10 July 2025

Proposer: Councillor Parrott

Seconder: Councillor Burden

Ward(s) affected: All

Notice of Motion

Labour Group Amendment

This council notes:

1) Unpaid carers ~~are estimated to save the government~~ contribute £162 billion every year in selfless work for loved ones [1] ^[1]

2) 44% of adults providing unpaid care for over 35 hours a week are in poverty, with nearly 8% of people receiving Carers Allowance relying on food banks^[2]

3) Carers Allowance is entirely deducted from Universal Credit payments and there is a ‘cliff edge’ when hitting the £196/week part-term earnings limit

4) The uncertainty remaining for those being prosecuted due to ‘overpayments’ of Carers Allowance, which for many was due the complexity of calculating allowances

5) Unpaid carers play a vital role in our City and ~~should be~~ are recognised by this Council and compensated for the valuable work they do

6) The government ~~must~~ will continue to take swift action to tackle poverty among unpaid carers and ~~not worsen this with prosecutions~~ ensure fairness in the systems within our welfare state

Therefore, resolves to:

1) ~~Request that the Leader of the Council writes to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care calling on them to:~~

a) ~~Urgently address how money from Carers Allowance is treated in relation to Universal Credit;~~

b) ~~Change rules around part-time earnings to allow unpaid carers to do more work and remove the ‘cliff-edge’;~~

c) ~~Cease all current and future prosecutions of Carers Allowance overpayments;~~

d) ~~Enable currently unpaid carers to be able to be paid as carers for family members; and~~

e) ~~Simplify the system for unpaid carers to calculate allowances and expenses.~~

2 1) Request that a report is brought to Cabinet ~~to consider the option of carrying out a consultation to assess the needs of unpaid carers locally and to explore what the council can do to better support them.~~refreshing the local carers strategy which has proved successful and useful since its launch in 2018.

1) Welcome the unprecedented rise in the earnings limit on carer’s allowance in the government’s 2024 autumn budget, meaning carers are able to earn up to £2,340 per year more.

2) Give our solidarity to the 20,800 unpaid carers in the city, including 25% of BHCC employees.

Supporting Notes

[1] Unpaid care in England and Wales valued at £445 million per day: https://www.carersuk.org/press-releases/unpaid-care-in-england-and-wales-valued-at-445-million-per-day/

[2] Heading for crisis: Caught between caring and rising costs: https://www.carersuk.org/media/x5sfjlbx/heading_for_crisis_report.pdf

Recommendations to read if carried:

This council notes:

1) Unpaid carers contribute £162 billion every year in selfless work for loved ones[1]

2) 44% of adults providing unpaid care for over 35 hours a week are in poverty, with nearly 8% of people receiving Carers Allowance relying on food banks[2]

3) Carers Allowance is entirely deducted from Universal Credit payments and there is a ‘cliff edge’ when hitting the £196/week part-term earnings limit

4) The uncertainty remaining for those being prosecuted due to ‘overpayments’ of Carers Allowance, which for many was due the complexity of calculating allowances

5) Unpaid carers play a vital role in our City and are recognised by this Council for the valuable work they do

6) The government will continue to take swift action to tackle poverty among unpaid carers and ensure fairness in the systems within our welfare state

Therefore, resolves to:

1) Request that a report is brought to Cabinet refreshing the local carers strategy which has proved successful and useful since its launch in 2018.

2) Welcome the unprecedented rise in the earnings limit on carer’s allowance in the government’s 2024 autumn budget, meaning carers are able to earn up to £2,340 per year more.

3) Give our solidarity to the 20,800 unpaid carers in the city, including 25% of BHCC employees.