West Lancashire MP, Rosie Cooper is calling for a fair deal for UKs army of working carers. Rosie has tabled an Early Day Motion calling on the Government to remove the disincentives to work faced by carers and ensuring carers are not forced into financial hardship.

Rosie is working alongside the Shopworkers Union, Usdaw, to campaign for greater recognition by the Government for role played by over six million carers who save the UK an estimated £87 billion per year.

Rosie herself is a carer and has worked closely with local carer organisations in West Lancashire.

The campaign is calling for Government to bring in changes to the benefits system that would allow working carers to earn more money before losing their entitlement to carers allowance.

Rosie Cooper said:
"From personal experience I know and understand just how difficult it is for people to balance work with their caring responsibilities. For carers then to be faced with financial hardship as a result is not acceptable."

"Along with Usdaw I am calling on the Conservative-Liberal Government to uphold the commitment of the 2008 National Carers Strategy that no carer should be faced with financial hardship."

"Anyone who decides to work alongside their caring responsibilities should not be penalised for going out to work to help make a better life for them and their family. We need to recognise the commitment given by carers and helping them not making it harder."

Under current rules carers who look after someone for more than 35 hours per week are entitled to a carers allowance of £53.90 a week but if the carer earns a penny more than £97 per week all carers allowance is withdrawn.

This acts as a disincentive for those with caring responsibilities to work more hours or to find a better paying job.