Crippling debt has been a lingering issue for many carers in the United Kingdom.
Renowned consumer finance expert, Martin Lewis, has issued a compelling call to action for Rachel Reeves to reform the allowances system that has plunged thousands of unpaid carers into life-changing debt, with some even facing criminal prosecution.
In a detailed letter addressed to the Chancellor, Lewis outlined four practical measures that could be implemented with minimal taxpayer cost to correct these financial injustices.
Among his suggestions were adjustments to the child benefit charge and the removal of withdrawal penalties from lifetime ISAs (LISAs).
Lewis, the founder of MoneySavingExpert, also highlighted the poor branding of the 25% government top-up for childcare costs, known as “tax-free childcare,” as a reason for its low uptake.
“These proposed changes can significantly improve people’s financial situations without substantial expenditure,” Lewis asserted.
He described the issues as “sensible non-partisan matters of financial injustice,” many of which had previously been brought to the attention of former Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.
A long-standing investigation has brought to light the penalization of unpaid carers who claim benefits for looking after disabled, ill, and elderly relatives.
The government enforces a strict earnings cap on these carers, which Lewis criticized as “perverse.” He pointed out that earning just a penny over the £151 threshold results in the loss of the entire carer’s allowance, a situation starkly different from the tapering system used in universal credit.
Lewis emphasized the “terrible disconnectedness and poor benefits systems” that have left many carers unknowingly in debt.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has acknowledged these flaws, stating that her department would review the system, which Lewis has branded as “fundamentally unjust.”
In addition to carers’ issues, Lewis urged the Treasury to adjust child benefit rules for single parents.
Despite Hunt’s commitment to review the high-income child benefit charge, the current system disproportionately affects single parents.
Lewis shared the plight of a single father whose wife died during childbirth. Earning £60,000, he struggles with mortgage payments and is penalized by HMRC, whereas a dual-income family earning nearly double faces no such penalty.
Although Hunt increased the income threshold from £50,000 to £60,000 in April, Lewis described this as an “interim measure” and called for a broader overhaul.
“This issue generates an unprecedented volume of correspondence from the public. It impacts many, and people care deeply about it,” he noted.
Lewis Calls for Reform of Homebuyer Penalties
Furthermore, Martin Lewis pressed Reeves to abolish the withdrawal penalty for first-time homebuyers using LISAs.
These accounts, introduced by the previous government to assist young people in purchasing homes, are now subject to a 25% penalty if used for properties exceeding the £450,000 cap.
This cap has remained unchanged since 2017, despite a 27% rise in house prices, leading to significant fines for buyers, especially in Southeast England.
Lewis also proposed renaming the tax-free childcare scheme, which remains unclaimed by approximately 800,000 families due to its misleading name.
He suggested alternative titles like “help to pay for childcare” or “working parents’ childcare top-up” to better reflect the scheme’s purpose.
With a history of successful campaigns influencing government policy, including interventions to curb fuel price hikes during Liz Truss’ brief tenure, Lewis expressed his hope to discuss further issues with Reeves.
His agenda includes student loan costs, financial education, and the regulation of buy-now-pay-later products.
“The government’s primary mission is to grow the economy to benefit every part of the country. We are taking the tough decisions necessary to rebuild Britain’s economic foundations.”
Treasury spokesperson
As these discussions progress, the focus remains on whether Reeves will take the steps needed to address these pressing financial injustices and support the unpaid carers who play a crucial role in society.
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