Carers and students or pensions??

mummytofour

Hello,
My little ds gets higher rate care and I have been looking at carers allowance.
I am classed as a full-time student but am only in uni for about 10 hours a week I do about 30 hrs private study at home in addition, until Dec. Then I will be on placment for 6 months which will be unpaid but part of my uni studies. Looking at the terms for carers it says full-time education means 21 hours or more of supervised study each week undertaken through a school, college, university or similar educational establishment.

Am I just splitting hairs or could I claim? I am not even sure I would claim I just wondered.

Also another option I have is FIL maybe giving up his job soon, moving closer and helping out with little ds. If FIL does could he claim carers instead? He gets a large pension from his last employer, would this effect his ability to claim carers allowance?


Thanks so much for reading and any advice would be fab, thank you.

dmg24

You cannot claim CA in your situation. You are a full time student.

Will your FIL be your sons full time carer, or are you just 'maximising your benefit entitlement' as you have done previously? :rolleyes:

merlin68

I believe you can't claim cares allowance if you get a pension, or are 65.

Ruby_Moon

No. You cannot claim carers allowance because you are a full time student.

merlin68

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Home > What we do > Information for patients and carers > Topic of the month > Carer's allowance
Carer's allowance

January's topic is on carer's allowance.


Below are some questions which one of our welfare rights officers is often asked. We hope the answers will be helpful to you.
The information is intended to be of general assistance. Please contact the relevant government agency to discuss your specific circumstances and entitlements. Please also see our disclaimer below.
What is Carer’s Allowance?
Carer’s allowance is a benefit paid to someone who spends at least 35 hours per week caring for a disabled person. You do not have to be related to or even live with the disabled person.
Who can get Carer’s Allowance?
You can get Carer’s Allowance even if you have never worked and even if you are in receipt of Attendance Allowance or Disability Living allowance. However, you must be caring for another person who gets Attendance Allowance or Middle/High Rate Disability Living Allowance.
What rate of benefit is Carer’s Allowance paid at?
Carer’s Allowance is paid at the rate of £50.55 per week and you can also receive additions for an adult dependant of £30.20. You can claim by completing form DS700 or on DS700 (SP) if you get a state pension.
Why Does Carer’s Allowance stop when I reach 60?
This is because you will only receive whatever benefit is the highest. Therefore, if your pension is below the £50.55 per week, you will receive a top up of Carer’s Allowance depending on your income details. In addition, you may also receive a Carer’s Premium of £27.75 within your Income Support if you are under 60, as with your Pension Credit if you are over 60.

Is it worth claiming Carer’s Allowance if I am not going to get any benefit anyway?
Yes. By claiming the Carer’s Allowance Benefit (again depending on income), you may still receive a Carer’s Premium, which can only be paid if Carer’s Allowance Benefit has been claimed, even if it is not paid due to other income. You would have what is known as an underlying entitlement to other benefit, for example council tax or housing benefit.
What age do you have to be in order to claim Carer’s Allowance?
You can be between 16 and 60 to claim Carer’s Allowance, as long as you meet the rules of caring for someone for 35 hours or more in any one week.
However, if you are 16 or over and a student studying 21 hours per week (which includes any study period), you will not qualify for Carer’s Allowance. If you are 16 and you claim Carer’s Allowance during the school summer holiday and then return to school, you will have to pay back any benefit awarded (if in doubt ring the Carer’s Allowance Unit on 01253 856123 who will advise you accordingly).
As mentioned above, once you reach 60, Carer’s Allowance is offset against the state pension. You could be entitled to the Carer’s Premium, Council Tax or Housing Benefit by claiming the Carer’s Allowance Benefit even if Carer’s Allowance Benefit is not paid due to being in receipt of an overlapping benefit.
What is an overlapping benefit?

• State Pension (as mentioned above)
• Maternity Allowance
• Incapacity Benefit or Unemployables Supplement
• Contribution-based Jobseekers Allowance
• Widows’ benefits and bereavement benefits
• A state training allowance

This is known as overlapping benefit rules. If you get less than the basic Carer’s Allowance Benefit, your benefit is topped up with Carer’s Allowance Benefit.
Why claim Carer’s Allowance Benefit?
As stated above, by claiming Carer’s Allowance Benefit, even if it is not paid to you, you may be entitled to any of the above mentioned benefits depending on your income status.
You will get National Insurance credits towards your state pension and you will also receive a Christmas bonus of £10.00 every year whilst claiming Carer’s Allowance.
There is also an eight-week run-on of Carer’s Allowance which is still paid (if payable) or eight weeks’ underlying benefits paid if you stop caring.
Disclaimer:
While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy and reliability of this information, Marie Curie Cancer Care does not accept responsibility for any use of the information provided and shall not be liable for any expense, loss or damage incurred as a result of relying on this information. The information is intended to provide background information only.

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Ruby_Moon

Merlin, why clog the thread with this large post when it doesn't specifically answer the OP anyway?
Or is it just a plug for the charity?

mummytofour

dmg24 wrote: »

You cannot claim CA in your situation. You are a full time student.

Will your FIL be your sons full time carer, or are you just 'maximising your benefit entitlement' as you have done previously? :rolleyes:

Hmmm not sure what you mean by maximising my bendifts, its not the first time you have said that either. There a couple of beneifts we dont claim, which we could. if you want to walk in my shoes, feel free.

Yes FIL would be looking after ds as there is a lack of after school childcare for children with disabilites....

mummytofour

Merlin ansewerd my question I think. Thanks

kingfisherblue

As others have said, you cannot claim CA as you are a full time student and your FIL cannot claim if he is of pensionable age. Also, if it is just after school care, your FIL is unlikely to fulfill the requirement of caring for a minimum of 35 hours a week.

If lack of after school care is a problem (which it often is for disabled children), it is worth contacting your local council and speaking to either the children with disabilities team or the family information service. There might be something that you are unaware of. I have reccently discovered that in my town there is a barnardo's after school club, some chilminders who accept children with disabilities (not sure if any can actually refuse anyway - surely they would be in breach of the DDA?), and a respite children's home. I thought the home only had children overnight, but they have a 'teatime club' as well. Maybe your area has something that you don't yet know about. If they don't, ask why, and what plans they have to provide something. Under the Aiming High for Disabled Children Agenda, short breaks (and this can include after school clubs) are a priority.

crutches

I believe that "supervised" study counts time that you are studying alone as you could be using uni resources.6th form colleges work on that basis.Not 9-4 lessons like school but "study time" which still counts as "supervised" even if it isnt directly supervised.It is "supervised" through the essays you write etc being marked with feedback on your studies IYSWIM.

Having a disabled child is hard, having more than one and studying (previous posts) deserves helpful answers and encouragement not harsh words.You are obviously trying to make a future for your family.

kingfisherblue

Can I just support crutches post to say that studying when you have a disabled child is hard. I graduated earlier this year, after five years part time study, during which time I gained a foundation degree and then 'topped up' to an Honours degree. I wasn't working in paid employment, but I did placements for most of that time (not the four months though!). I also continued to bring up my children, including one with compex needs, and continue with my voluntary work. So yes, it was hard, but it is worth it.

OP, have you thought about asking the university about it's Access to Learning Fund (it used to be called the hardship fund)? It might help you with some of your financial needs.