Written question WQ84897

Unpaid carers in receipt of Carers Allowance on 31 March 2022 will be able to register with their local authorities for the £500 payment from 16 May 2022.

All those who are eligible for the payment will need to complete a simple registration form that provides their local authority with information to undertake verification checks and to make the payment into their bank account. In a small number of cases, local authorities may need to request additional information or supporting evidence before a payment can be made.

Only those unpaid carers who are in receipt of Carers Allowance will be eligible for the payment. By awarding the payment to people in receipt of Carers Allowance, we are targeting unpaid carers on the lowest incomes who have been most vulnerable to the financial impact of the pandemic.

Eligibility for Carers Allowance starts from the age of 16, therefore young carers and young adult carers who are aged 16 and over will be able to register and claim the new £500 carers’ payment, provided they meet the Carers Allowance eligibility criteria and are in receipt of the benefit on 31 March 2022.

We recognise the invaluable contribution all unpaid carers make in Wales. In recognition of the increased pressure caused by the pandemic, we have allocated additional funding of £10m to support unpaid carers of all ages in 2021-22. This included £1.25m for a Carers Support Fund to help carers cope with the increased costs of the pandemic; £2.5m has been allocated to this fund over the past two years. We also provided £3m to local authorities for respite services and short break options to help carers take a break from their caring role.

Financial support in 2022-23 will include:

• Funding to deliver our Programme for Government commitment of a new unpaid carers short breaks fund.

• Continuation of the three-year Sustainable Social Services Third Sector grant scheme which has been providing £2.6m over three years for innovative support to carers via four specific projects led by Age Cymru, Carers Wales, Carers Trust Wales and the All Wales Forum. The grant scheme has now been extended for a further two years.

• £1m for Regional Partnership Boards to help support and involve unpaid carers in the hospital discharge process.

• The Regional Integration Fund (RIF) starting from April 2022 and managed by the Regional Partnership Boards retains unpaid carers as a priority group. The RIF will be expected to achieve a minimum of 5% of the overall investment into direct support for unpaid carers of all ages.

£186,000 for the ongoing work with local authorities and Carers Trust Wales to raise awareness of the national Young Carers ID card.