On 25th June in Parliament Gerald Jones, Labour MP for Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney, urged the UK Government to allow care workers in Wales to keep the entire £500 payment provided by the Welsh Government tax-free, during a debate on recognition for care workers during the ongoing pandemic.

In May, the Welsh Government announced that social care staff in Wales, including ancillary staff in the care sector such as cooks and cleaners, would receive a one-off £500 payment in recognition for their work supporting those in need during the coronavirus pandemic.

At the time, Gerald joined with fellow Welsh Labour MPs to write to the UK Government urging them to exempt the payment to care workers from tax and allow them to keep the entire £500; however, the UK Government has so far refused to make an exception, and in his speech in Parliament Gerald urged the Government to finally commit to making an exception to allow care workers to keep the entire payment tax-free.

Speaking in Parliament on 25th June, Gerald said:

“I urge the UK Government to do the right thing, make an exception in this case and allow care workers to keep the entire £500 one-off payment in recognition of their efforts not only during the pandemic, but all year round.

 

“To do anything less is an insult to the sacrifices they have made and the pressure that they put themselves under to care for those most in need during such a difficult time.

 

“I ask the Minister to confirm that she will make representations to the Treasury in this regard and will indeed allow carers in Wales to receive the full £500 in recognition of their amazing efforts during the pandemic, and remove the tax requirement in this case.”

New Horizons Mental Health in partnership with Mental Health Matters, Voluntary Action Merthyr Tydfil and Adult learning Wales have obtained funding to work with carers of those with dementia and cognitive impairment in the Merthyr Tydfil area, and will provide free courses for carers online, with 14 places available.

Details of the courses and how to register is are available here: https://www.geraldjones.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/256/2020/11/Merthyr-Project-nh-traiining-1.pdf

Details of course content are available here: https://www.geraldjones.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/256/2020/11/Merthyr-Courses-content.pdf

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