Category Archives: Carers

Protests: Carers and disabled affected by Benefit change

March 16, 2013   benefits, Carers, ukcuts

16 March 2013 Last updated at 18:32

Housing benefit change protests held

Protesters in Manchester Protests have taken place across the country, including Manchester.

Thousands have been demonstrating in a series of cities against government plans to cut housing benefit for those considered to have too much space.

Protests against the plan – labelled the “bedroom tax” by Labour – have been held in 52 towns and cities, including Manchester and London.

Organisers said between 12,000 and 13,000 people turned out.

The government’s welfare changes are due to come in in April and are expected to affect 660,000 people.

Those deemed to have a spare room in their council or housing association home will have their housing benefit claims reduced by £40-£80.

The protests’ national organiser, Éoin Clarke, said: “This is a cruel policy that primarily hits single parents, and the adult disabled.

“Even children deemed disabled but not ‘severely’ so, are affected. Carers, the terminally-ill, battered wives and husbands are all affected.

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Sunderland University helps raise the profile of unpaid carers

March 16, 2013   Carers, disability, Older care

Sunderland carers’ starring role in exhibition

Sunderland University helps raise the  profile of unpaid carers by hosting special photography exhibition

 
A carer
The breaks that carers take from their roles have been captured on camera and will be unveiled at a North East exhibition next week.

The exhibition, called Time Well Earned, will be displayed at Sunderland University’s Showcase Gallery in the Priestman Building, City Campus, between Tuesday and April 19.

The university has joined forces with the Sunderland Carers’ Centre to raise the profile of unpaid carers – people who look after family members or friends who have a long-term illness, a disability or who are elderly and frail.

Many carers juggle care with employment and the level of care they give can exceed a full-time job.

The photographs show carers taking well-deserved breaks from their caring roles, and the idea for the project came from Daniel Dale, who is studying a photography degree.

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Husband who cares for his wife with MS faces misery because they have a spare bedroom

March 15, 2013   Carers, Multiple Sclerosis, Scotland, ukcuts

‘I’d rather go to jail than pay bedroom tax’ – husband carer’s desperation over controversial welfare cut

PETER PAPWORTH, who looks after his disabled wife, says he’d rather be behind bars than pay the Con-Dem’s bedroom tax.

Peter and Amanda Papworth
Peter and Amanda Papworth
PETER JOLLY NORTHPIX

A HUSBAND who cares for his disabled wife is among the first people to be hit by the Con-Dem Government’s controversial bedroom tax.

Peter Papworth received a demand from Highland Council this week but vows he will go to jail rather than pay.

The 38-year-old lives with wife Amanda, who has multiple sclerosis, in a two-bedroom house in Inverness.

But Highland Council say the couple must fork out £9.96 a week from next month as they have a spare room.

He is now demanding a meeting with local Lib Dem MP Danny Alexander – a leading member of the Coalition Government behind the tax.

Peter said: “My stomach is knotted with anger. To some people it might only be £40 a month but we simply cannot afford it. This will have a devastating effect on us.”

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