Learning and Work Institute and Carers Trust call for entitlement to carer’s allowance to be extended to young adult carers in full-time education

New joint briefing urges UK Government to follow Scottish Government in exempting young adult carers from the ‘21 hour’ rule

The Learning and Work Institute (L&W) and Carers Trust have called for entitlement to carer's allowance to be extended to young adult carers in full-time education.

In a new joint briefing, Young Adult carers and the 21 hour rule, L&W and Carers Trust note that applicants who are studying for more than 21 hours a week are deemed ineligible for carer's allowance, adding that –

'The 21 hour/full time education rule effectively pushes young adult carers away from education, as they often cannot afford to give up the vital financial support that carer’s allowance provides.'

The two organisations also highlight that –

  • on average, carers miss 5 per cent of school days because of caring, and caring interferes with a quarter of all school days;
  • young adult carers have significantly lower educational attainment at GCSE, the equivalent to nine grades lower overall than their peers;
  • young adult carers are three times as likely to be NEET (not in education, employment or training) compared to other young people; and
  • young adult carers are four times more likely to drop out of college and university than a student without caring responsibilities.

As a result, L&W and Carers Trust call on the government to exempt young adult carers (aged 16-24) from the 21 hour/full time education rule, commenting that –

'No young adult carers should miss out on learning because they care for their families. This policy change would make a significant difference in opening up opportunities, such as T levels and A levels, for young adult carers who have missed out on so much. As part of changes being made to carer’s allowance in Scotland, the Scottish Government has recently announced that from 2024, entitlement will be extended to carers in full time education. Governments in other parts of the UK should follow this example.'

L&W's Head of learning for Young People Nicola Aylward said –

'Despite making a fantastic contribution to their families and society, young adult carers miss out on so much. The 21 hour rule effectively pushes them away from education, trapping them in a caring role and preventing them from gaining the skills, qualifications and experience to build a life of their own. Exempting young adult carers from the 21 hour rule in Carer’s Allowance would have educational and economic benefits for these young people and the country. It will enable more young people with caring responsibilities to study, to complete their courses and to gain ‘flagship’ qualifications, improving their employment prospects and earnings as a result.'

Young Adult carers and the 21 hour rule is available from learningandwork.org.uk