Work of carers not being recognised

We have an older daughter and recently completed our family with a new baby boy.

Before the birth of my third child I was in reciept of carers' allowance as my son's carer and also worked one day a week.

My earnings as an employee were not enough to receive statutory maternity pay from my employer, I am limited to what I can earn due to my carers' allowance, therefore when I went on my maternity leave I recieved maternity allowance.

I was shocked to discover that because I am now in reciept of maternity allowance, I am not entitled to my carers' allowance anymore!

I still care for my son. There is no one else who knows how to do everything he needs!

He needs physiotherapy several times a day and uses a standing frame and walking frame in the house.

He needs a wheelchair when he is out and all of this is done by myself as well as administering his medicine and doing his catheters and ensuring his splints are correctly fitted.

There is so much, I cannot put it all down. I have been told I am not entitled to both benefits at the same time, but there are people out there who have not worked a day in their lives yet they get more than one benefit.

I would like to ask this Government how much they would have to pay for professional health care workers to come and care for my son,

I imagine it would cost a lot more than the caers allowance I am still entitled to but not allowed to recieve whist on maternity.

The work we carers do is not recognised enough as it is. The money we save the government must be in the mllions each year, yet we cannot receive our carers' as well as maternity?

Joanne McCreath, Brierley Road, Dalton.