HELP! Carers allowance rules

simpywimpy

I have been claiming CA for years and recently started work for 20 hours. Was earning £100pw and though after travel expenses I was way under the limit. Turns out, travel isn't allowed.

As it's been going on ages I would have a substantial payback. Can I claim an allowance for someone taking my kids to school without it now looking bad? If I have to pay the whole lot back I will be seriously out of pocket as I will have earned less than I would have done just on benefits alone.

Any advice appreciated:o

jacnorm

I was told travel was allowed. It seems strange we have been given different info.

healy

Work and earnings
You cannot get Carer's Allowance if you earn more than £95 a week after money has been taken off to allow for your expenses.

Expenses that are allowed are for things like:

some National Insurance (NI) contributions
Income Tax
half of any money you pay towards personal or occupational pension schemes
other expenses you have to pay because they are a necessary part of your job
After allowing for these things, you are allowed up to half the rest of the money you earn to help meet the cost of paying someone else (but not a close relative) to look after a child or children, or the person you look after, while you are at work.

Maybe travel comes under other expenses.

nm8553

travel is normally disallowed on the basis that it is an unavoidable expense like buying clothes (unless they are specific safety items)

simpywimpy

they told me that you can't knock off the cost of getting to the job, only travel between jobs in the course of your work.(hope that makes sense)

Do you think they will think it funny if I say I forgot to add my childcare expenses?

nm8553

not sure if childcare expenses are allowable but if it was me I would try for sure. Nothing strange about not knowing and it has to be worth a go if you can prove the expenditure.

Good luck

ickle_3

Hi,

As long as you let them know within a month of the disallowance decision then they should look at the decision again. They may ask you to provide the names and contact details of who you pay the childcare costs to though.


Hope that has been of help to you.