Budget 2009: Darling to reward grandparents who care for grandchildren
Ross Watson
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Grandparents' roles in childcare have been recognised by Chancellor Alistair Darling, who has pledged that those of a working age will be rewarded for caring for children in their state pensions.
Darling said grandparents of a working age who choose to provide care for their grandchildren will be able to gain national insurance credits toward their basic state pension from 2011.
Sam Smethers, chief executive of charity Grandparents Plus, welcomed the new measure. "We know it's mostly women of a working age, on low income, providing the lion's share of grandparent childcare. They are also the ones with incomplete pension records," she said.
However, Darling failed to mention in his speech that grandparents must be caring for a child aged up to 12 and for more than 20 hours a week in order to qualify for the credits.
Smethers described the announcement as "victory for the principle that grandparents' roles in childcare is recognised and should be illustrated in other government policies".
Jeremy Todd, chief executive of parenting support charity Parentline Plus, said: "Many families struggle with childcare, and grandparents are for many, an essential support. We look forward to looking at the details behind this initiative."
Grandparents Plus published a report last month that called for payment for grandparents offering childcare, as well as two weeks' "granny leave" for grandparents of newborn grandchildren, and flexible working hours for grandparents of children under six.
