The Government has promised to end a cliff edge in benefits faced by unpaid carers as part of a cost-of-living package announced on the eve of the Budget .

Chancellor John Healey is expected to end the Carers’ Allowance cliff edge which has penalised unpaid carers for going over their earnings limit, even by as little as a few pence per week.

The sudden end in support for breaching the limit, widely described as a scandal by campaigners, will be replaced by a taper, so the benefit will decrease by £1 for every additional pound earned.

Ministers made the announcement as they set out a series of “everyday fixes” to help people with the cost-of-living crisis, which are expected to feature in Wednesday’s Budget.

They also plan to make a higher tax-free mileage allowance of 55p permanent, and to slash tariffs on a range of popular foods, including chocolate, beans and gherkins, to make them cheaper for shoppers.

The tariff cut is also aimed at bringing down the price of fertiliser for farmers, and kerosene…