2-12-04

Barrett supports Carers’ Rights Day

John Barrett, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, will tomorrow back the 4th annual “Carers’ Rights Day”, which aims raise public awareness of carers and ensure the better take-up of the benefits to which they are entitled.
 
According to Carers UK, more than 660,000 people inScotlandare acting as carers.  It is estimated that carers save the nationalUKeconomy around £57 billion per year. However, many carers are unaware of the benefits to which they are entitled to and the extra support they can get.
 
Carers’ Rights Day aims to highlight the importance of carers, to get more people to identify themselves as carers and to increase benefit take-up.
 
In a statement, John Barrett said:
 
“Carers are crucial to communities here inEdinburghand throughout theUK.  Without them, many voluntary groups would simply not be able to function properly. 
 
“Unfortunately, many carers are still unaware of the extra support that is available and extra financial benefits they can get.  It is now estimated that some £600 million worth of carers’ benefits go unclaimed each and every year.  That is why the good will that comes from Carers’ Rights Day has to be backed by a new effort from the Government to better educate people about the extra financial help available and to increase the take-up rates.”
 
ENDS

Notes to Editors.
 
• More information on Carers and Carers’ Rights Day is available from Carers Scotland at www.carersonline.org.uk.