Carers Allowance, question

crockpot

Hi

Hope you can help?

My MIL had a stroke and now gets AA.

I was working full time, but unable to spend time with MIL so I found myself a part time job, but giving me more hours work than I want. Even if it was the 3 days I want would still be over £100 a week.

Anyhow, do not like the part time job so thinking of leaving.

Know that I have to give at least 35 hours of care, but can this include time doing her washing,shopping, aswell as personal care?

Hubbie works full time and we get basic tax credit and child benefit.

Thanks

joanne_d_3

crockpot wrote: »

Hi

Hope you can help?

My MIL had a stroke and now gets AA.

I was working full time, but unable to spend time with MIL so I found myself a part time job, but giving me more hours work than I want. Even if it was the 3 days I want would still be over £100 a week.

Anyhow, do not like the part time job so thinking of leaving.

Know that I have to give at least 35 hours of care, but can this include time doing her washing,shopping, aswell as personal care?

Hubbie works full time and we get basic tax credit and child benefit.

Thanks

hI

sorry to hear about your MIL .

Yes , the 35 hours is the total (least) number of hours you need to be spending looking after someone to qualify for carers allowance.

Also , i must remind you that carers allowance is counted as income for tax credit purposes so , although you may receive a weekly payment of £50 or whatever it currently is as payment for carers allowance , you will find that you weekly payments of tax credits will drop - probably by around £20 or so as this is what happened when i claimed for my daughter.

Hope this helps

joanne

nannytone_2

also if your MIL is claiming sdp premium and lives alone , she will lose the premium if you clain as her carer.

crockpot

Thanks for that.

She does not get SDP as she has a pension and some savings.

Will have a talk to her about it, she does not like being helped, but can not manage alone.

Only get min tax credits at mo and earn more than CA so it might go up! Until they change it of course!

nannytone_2

you should also sontact social services and see if they can put a care plan into place. my MIL has emphasema and arthritis, and has 3 daily visits for her care needs. i dont claim carers as i am registered blind, so i couldnt guarantee helping her for 35 hours weekly, though i do all her shopping and washing and pay her bills etc.
no one ever tells you what you what help she may be entitled to.........seems its up to people to work out for themselves!