Income support/Lone Parents.

SuziQ

I went for my Lone parent meeting Tuesday,and once again saw a new advisor. She said she hadn't been working there long and seemed very unsure/nervous. She looked at the notes the previous advisor had made on-screen which included that I was having treatment for cancer etc. She firstly told me I should apply for ESA as I would be 'better off' than I am now. I had already been through this with the previous advisor,who eventually admitted that I wouldn't be 'better off' but she said it would make it easier for me in October when I will have to change to JSA if not back at work as my youngest will be 8. As I had hoped I would be back at work by then, I ddn't take much notice tbh,but now have been told I need further surgery and have taken a few steps back in my recovery.
The girl today, stated that as I get DLA HRC LRM for my youngest,the new rules re Income support don't apply to me anyway, so I may as well stay on Income support after all. This is all hypothetical for me as I won't do anything until I have more idea re my health and ideally I want to be back at work anyway, I am dying a slow death of boredom at home-too much time to think and worry. Howevere whether I manage to get a job when I am well is another matter.But it left me wondering whether she had mixed things up about the Income support and DLA. She did point out to me that I should apply for carers allowance as I would be £20 or so better off a week, I don't know why but I have always chickened out from applying for that- I feel I already get a lot of support,am managing so just left it.
Does anyone know the answer to the IS/DLA question, though? I have tried to understand the info online but am not sure what it means.

Many thanks in advance, Sue.

munchings-n-crunchings

Hello Sue,

My children receive DLA, so I am in the same position as yourself.

CA is £53.90 from the 12th April. If you claim IS, this money is deducted from your IS, and a Carer Premium is added.
Weekly you would get £41.60 IS plus £53.90CA, from the 13th April
The amount you can earn before your CA is affected has also risen to £100 pw
These figures are taken from my latest award notice, so they are correct.

Regards

Munchie

bigbill

You should claim Carers Allowance and backdate it three months or to the start date of the childs DLA if the origianl DLA award letter was less than three months ago?

Its worth an extra £30 weekly plus about £500 in arrears

shazrobo

as your child is in receipt of dla, if you claim as a carer, the new income support rules about going back to work when youngest is 8 dont apply

[Deleted User]

munchings-n-crunchings wrote: »

Hello Sue,

My children receive DLA, so I am in the same position as yourself.

CA is £53.90 from the 12th April. If you claim IS, this money is deducted from your IS, and a Carer Premium is added.
Weekly you would get £41.60 IS plus £53.90CA, from the 13th April
The amount you can earn before your CA is affected has also risen to £100 pw
These figures are taken from my latest award notice, so they are correct.

Regards

Munchie

carers premium is increased from 29.50 to 30.05 from 13/4

munchings-n-crunchings

woodbine wrote: »

carers premium is increased from 29.50 to 30.05 from 13/4

After 17 years of being a parent / carer, I am finally returning to work in 2 weeks. It's only 16 hours, but it's a start. I can get off IS, so actually didn't pay too much attention to the detail.

Munchie

SuziQ

I know what you mean Munchie,I tend to ignore if I think it doesn't apply to me then I end up gnorant and on here asking questions! So only if I claim carers the new rules don't apply? I think I'm afraid if I now claim carers it will trigger an earlier review of my son's DLA and I found the form filling so exhausting I really can't face it at the moment. Thanks for all the information,everyone.

[Deleted User]

munchings-n-crunchings wrote: »

After 17 years of being a parent / carer, I am finally returning to work in 2 weeks. It's only 16 hours, but it's a start. I can get off IS, so actually didn't pay too much attention to the detail.

Munchie

good luck in your new job munchie hope all goes well

[Deleted User]

SuziQ wrote: »

I know what you mean Munchie,I tend to ignore if I think it doesn't apply to me then I end up gnorant and on here asking questions! So only if I claim carers the new rules don't apply? I think I'm afraid if I now claim carers it will trigger an earlier review of my son's DLA and I found the form filling so exhausting I really can't face it at the moment. Thanks for all the information,everyone.

no reason why it should trigger a review

kingfisherblue

I'm a single parent who has a disabled son. I get IS and CA. It didn't trigger a review when I claimed CA. It also means that I am not obliged to move over to JSA (my youngest is now 10, so I would have been moved over by now if I hadn't been a carer). the rules state that if you are a carer, you have an underlying entitlement to receive IS. You still have to go for a work focused interview every six months, but you don't have to look for work unless you want to.

You should also inform Child Tax Credits (if you haven't already done so) that your son gets HRC, as you should then receive a disability premium and a severe disability premium on the CTC.

If you are keen to work, but unable to at the moment, why not try some voluntary work? I do this as it fits in with my caring responsibilities. It saves me from the total boredom of housework, gets me out of the house and into the community, and means that I have also made new friends. I'm also getting to use my brain, which seemed to be of little use to me previously! Your local CVS office or www.do-it.org.uk can help, ir ask at your local community centre.

Munchie - good luck in your new job xx

munchings-n-crunchings

Thanks for the good wishes folks!

It's not a huge amount of hours, but fitting in with 2 ASD children is not easy, so it will be more than enough to start with.
I feel like it's my birthday, as I got a adviser grant from the job centre to choose some work clothes and shoes, so I can get out of my jeans and sweatshirt!

Regards

Munchie