Category Archives: Carers

Welfare changes for disabled people delayed

October 26, 2013   Carers, disability, welfare

The government said the process of reassessing people was taking longer than planned

 The government said the process of reassessing people was taking longer than planned

People will move from Disability Living Allowance to the Personal Independence Payment next week in only certain areas instead of the whole of Great Britain.

Work and pensions minister Mike Penning said the process of reassessing people was “taking longer than expected”.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves said it was the “latest example of chaos” in the department.

‘Controlled approach’

Claimants will remain on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for the time being except those in Wales, the East and West Midlands and East Anglia who will transfer to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) from Monday if their condition changes.

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Carer-friendly policies needed to relieve pressure on the 'sandwich generation'

October 25, 2013   Carers

With people living longer and more women having children later in life while pursuing careers, those caring for both their children and their parents are feeling the strain

 

There are an estimated 2.4 million sandwich carers in the UK.

Britain’s cost-of-living crisis is fast becoming a key battleground area on which the next general election will be fought. As parties gear up for 2015, Labour has promised to alleviate the strain on hard-working parents with an increase in state-funded childcare. Hard on its heels, the coalition also proposes to extend the hours of free childcare to parents with two-year-olds.

While affordable childcare has long been recognised as key to our economic infrastructure, there’s a fast-growing group for whom no such election pledges have been aimed: the sandwich generation – those who carry the dual responsibility of caring for young children alongside elderly or disabled relatives.

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Widower forced to pay carer £3,500 compensation because his wife died

October 24, 2013   Carers, Parkinsons

Widower forced to pay carer Jayne Wakefield £3,500 compensation because his wife died

A 77-year-old widower has been forced to pay £3,500 compensation to a carer who was ‘unfairly dismissed’ after his wife died.

A 77-year-old widower has been forced to pay £3,500 compensation to a carer who was 'unfairly dismissed' after his wife died.

George Lomas from Scholar Green, Stoke, with a picture of his wife Rose Photo: Newsteam

10:39AM BST 23 Oct 2013

A widower will have to pay out £3,500 in compensation after the carer he treated “like a daughter” brought a claim against him for unfair dismissal when his wife died.

Jayne Wakefield, 55, had been working 30 hours a week to care for 76-year-old Rose Lomas, who suffered from Parkinson’s disease, until her death in March this year.

But when George Lomas reduced the care worker’s hours following his wife’s death, Mrs Wakefield resigned, saying she had not been given enough notice of the change.

An earlier employment tribunal rejected Mrs Wakefield’s claim that he had breached their contract, but this was overturned on appeal.

“How was I supposed to give notice? You don’t have notice when your wife is going to die,” Mr Lomas said following the tribunal.

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