Category Archives: charities

Cameron ‘will listen’ to charity concerns over tax relief

April 11, 2012   Carers, charities

Cameron ‘will listen’ to charity concerns over tax relief

 Charities say the plan announced in last month’s Budget was a “bombshell”

David Cameron has said he will listen “very sympathetically” to concerns from charities about the impact of a planned cap on tax relief on donations.

Philanthropists have criticised plans to put an annual limit on tax reliefs, including for charitable donations, saying it will deter giving.

The PM said use of donations to cut tax bills must be curbed but the “right balance” could be struck.

Labour said the plan is “another nail in the coffin” of the Big Society.

Read More

Carers free from tax credit cuts

March 20, 2012   Carers, charities, disability

Plans to change tax credit entitlement that would have cost couples with disabled children up to £3,870 a year have been altered.

 Couples with disabled children are entitled to financial help through the tax credits system

Plans to change tax credit entitlement that would have cost couples with disabled children up to £3,870 a year have been altered.

Millions of working low-income families can claim tax credits, in addition to some benefits.

Changes in April mean couples with children will have to work for 24 hours a week between them, not 16, in order to qualify for working tax credit.

However, the government has now made carers exempt from this change.

Read More

Hundreds of pensioners and disabled people will descend on Westminster today

March 6, 2012   Carers, charities, disability, Older care

Only the elderly with £100,000 in assets ‘should pay for care home fees’ argue campaigners ahead of mass rally

By Daniel Martin

 

No family should be forced to dip into their savings to pay for care in old age if their assets fall below £100,000, campaigners will argue today in a mass rally at Parliament.

At present, anyone with assets of more than £23,250 has to pay for residential care costs – forcing thousands to sell their homes.

Now Age UK is calling for this means-test level to be raised to £100,000, allowing thrifty pensioners to safeguard their homes and pass on more to their children.

Helping the aged: Thrifty pensioners would be able to safeguard their homes and pass on more to their children if the means-test level was raised.
Read More