Carers Allowance Advice

greenface

Hi to all and thanks for taking the time to read this.I have a problem and just received a notice of overpayment of carers allowance . I have just returned from my local one stop shop and have phoned Preston DWP for a explaination and written statement of their decision and to look at their decision again.
Right now all is done correct but thats from today only.
Before today i was not aware of the fact I HAVE BEEN CLAIMING CARERS ALLOWANCE FOR MY CHILD AND MY WIFE I was never told i couldnt ? I have been filling in my forms and nothing has ever stopped nor ever flagged up to prevent me .I honestly in good faith never knew i was doing anything wrong. My statements show i was paid only once monthly they joined payments together to one full amount (they must have known i was claiming for two people) I cannot actually remember filling in a form for CA for my wife. I have now been informed i should have claimed CA for my wife Who is on DLA & IB and my wife to claim for my child DLA & then CB now ESA ! So both are entiltled to CA. In my world this is dafter than the one they are screwing me for because Is it right for someone to be able to care for another if they need someone to care for them ?
They have asked for a substantial amount to be repaid i am of the opinion i have done no wrong and will fight this one through legal ways and M.P
thanks in advance

greenface

Hi just popped in to see if there is any replys
Oh sorry this wont "bump" the post back to the top will it.

NASA_2

Sorry, but having read the initial post I am confused as to who is claiming what for who and how many times they claimed.

Can you clarify the situation a bit?

greenface

I have been claiming carers allowance for both my wife and my child for a long time and just recieved notice of overpayment from DWP

Indie_Kid

greenface wrote: »

Is it right for someone to be able to care for another if they need someone to care for them ?

Yes it's possible, if someone is physically disabled and their partner has mental health problems.

[Deleted User]

It might be worth asking them for proof that you made 2 claims if you are sure you didnt,other than that i`m not sure

bigbill

If you had a partenr addition to your Carers at £31.70 weekly and they already had Incapacity benefit themselves then yes you have been overpaid, whether its your fault or the DWP's remains to be seen?

greenface

bigbill wrote: »

If you had a partenr addition to your Carers at £31.70 weekly and they already had Incapacity benefit themselves then yes you have been overpaid, whether its your fault or the DWP's remains to be seen?

thank you so much i think this is where its gone belly up but im not sure the £30ish weekly adds up to about the right figure they are claiming is over paid.
I fill in all the forms presented to me bear in mind with a child & wife both with different problems i fill in many forms . the overpayments will be connected to a form i am sure but the Carers allowance was all paid into our joint account in my name as ONE Carers allowance payment. They are aware my wife is on IB and has been for over 20 years i am astounded this has just come to their attention. bigbill with my wife getting IB would she be able to get CA for our child ? thanks

bigbill

She could claim it but and it would be awarded but it would not be paid as the IB is at a higher rate.

By claiming it this would allow an extra £29.50 to be included in any other means tested benefit you claim or might now claim, such as Income Support, Pension Credit, Employment Siupport (Income Related), Housing and Council Tax benefit if paid?

The amount overpaid might be a child addition at £8.20 weekly as well if she also had this child addition paid in her weekly IB.

greenface

Bill thanks a million you are answering more questions than i have tried all day i understand the IB being at the higher rate .....

Can I PM you tomorrow as there are things i know you can help with.