SUPPORTING YOUNG CARERS TO STUDY

That this House recognises the important and selfless work carers and young carers undertake in looking after and supporting their loved ones; appreciates the enormous contribution carers make to society; acknowledges that the cost to the public purse of providing social care would be considerably higher were it not for the contribution of carers; notes the current eligibility for carer's allowance recipients states a carer cannot be studying for 21 hours per week or more; believes this disadvantages young carers who wish to study to improve their future employment prospects and reach their full potential; further notes that many carers and their families experience financial hardship due to illness or disability within the family; further believes the current carer's allowance criteria, which restricts a carer from length of study, increases the likelihood that a cycle of financial hardship will continue if young people are not able to obtain a good education; congratulates Carmarthenshire Young Adult Carers and the Carers Trust for their campaign to change the 21-hour criteria to enable young people to study; and calls on the Government to review the criteria for carer's allowance with the aim of enabling young carers to study at further and higher education without fear of losing their financial lifeline.