A coalition of charities and education providers is advocating for young carers in England and Wales to be exempt from benefit rules that prevent them from pursuing higher education. These rules unfairly penalize young carers, aged 16 to 24, who often care for relatives, by making them ineligible for the government’s carer’s allowance if they study for more than 21 hours a week.
This restriction prevents young carers from taking a full course of A-levels, BTecs, or T-levels, limiting their educational opportunities. It’s estimated that over 37,000 young people in England and Wales provide more than 50 hours of care each week, hindering their ability to pursue further education after leaving school.
One such young carer is Sarah from Liverpool, who had to drop out of school at 16 due to caring for her mother and younger sister. Now 21, Sarah wants to become a nurse but is unable to pursue her education due to the care responsibilities and financial constraints.
The Carers Trust’s policy manager, Andy McGowan, emphasized the need to remove barriers to education for student carers and criticized the 21-hour rule for limiting the aspirations of young adult carers.
The carer’s allowance, worth £76.75 a week, is unavailable to those in full-time education studying more than 21 hours a week. To address this issue, a group of over 200 organizations, including Barnardo’s, the Children’s Society, local authorities, and educational institutions, is urging the Department for Work and Pensions to exempt young carers from this rule.
The government has acknowledged the importance of supporting young carers in education and is committed to ensuring their access to education. However, the current benefit rules pose significant challenges for young carers, hindering their educational and career prospects.
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