Currently, caregivers have to prove that they'll be looking after children in their care for at least 12 months, and I think we've heard from others that this particular provision that currently exists in our law is very problematic. The requirement isn't fair. This bill would remove the 12-month rule, as it's known, and it would do this by extending the definition of who a caregiver is. Often when people are caring for a child, they may end up caring for them longer than they originally thought, meaning that children who would have been entitled to additional benefits if the final length of their care had been known remain unentitled to them. So the removal of this rule will allow caregivers to receive allowances when the period of care is short term, unknown, or uncertain. 