Benefit advice

carylh43

Hi,

I am at the moment in receipt of JSA, my daughter is 24 and still lives at home, she has been diagnosed as suffering with Bipolar, which has over the years included self harm and overdoses, she is on regular medication and has to be looked after and watched all of the time to make sure she does not harm herself, she has recently been awarded DLA care at the middle rate from 2009 to 2014,

I rang the JSA to explain this as when I was put onto JSA I was told that even though I cared for her I could not be classed as her carer until an award for DLA was made at a certain rate, and I was told due to me looking after her I should claim carers allowance, but not JSA, then I was told I can claim carers allowance and JSA, then on ringing them again, was told I should claim carers and Income support, I really dont know what to do, everones telling me different things, really confused, any help will be appreciated,

Indie_Kid

If you're a carer, you're not avaliable for work. Therefore, you can't claim JSA and can claim income support instead.

snoop2008

carylh43 wrote: »

Hi,

I am at the moment in receipt of JSA, my daughter is 24 and still lives at home, she has been diagnosed as suffering with Bipolar, which has over the years included self harm and overdoses, she is on regular medication and has to be looked after and watched all of the time to make sure she does not harm herself, she has recently been awarded DLA care at the middle rate from 2009 to 2014,

I rang the JSA to explain this as when I was put onto JSA I was told that even though I cared for her I could not be classed as her carer until an award for DLA was made at a certain rate, and I was told due to me looking after her I should claim carers allowance, but not JSA, then I was told I can claim carers allowance and JSA, then on ringing them again, was told I should claim carers and Income support, I really dont know what to do, everones telling me different things, really confused, any help will be appreciated,

Hiya there, it can be cofusing, can't it. As your daughter is getting the middle rate of DLA for care you can claim carers allowance BUT not JSA. by claimning carers allowance you may also be entilted to the carers premium in income support. Here is a link that may help.

http://www.carersuk.org/Information/Financialhelp/CarersAllowance/Rules

kingfisherblue

If it helps, I get IS as a carer - there is a carer's premium added on, but the total amount is then reduced by the amount of Carer's Allowance. I get about £40.70 a week IS. But then I also get £53.90 CA, so the total is over £94 a week - about £30 a week more than JSA.

Also, as a carer, you will only have to attend the Job Centre every three years instead of fortnightly, so you will be saving on bus fares or petrol and parking.

Hope that makes sense.

SingleSue

I have to attend the job centre every 6 months for a work focused interview because of the income support....despite being a carer.

My lone parent advisor even checked it out (for herself) as she thought I would be exempt as I receive carers allowance but because of being on income support, I still have to attend every 6 months.

kingfisherblue

SingleSue, I also have to attend every six months as I am a single parent. When my youngest is eighteen, this will change to every three years - the OP's daughter is 24, so I would think it is the three yearly interview that will apply. The six monthly interviews are only for single parents who have children under 18.

SingleSue

Hmm, lone parent advisor today said it was solely down to income support being in receipt rather than being a lone parent on income support.

Mind you, you never know do you.....she is sweet but I have to tell her of some new rules!

carylh43

I just want to say a big thank you for all of your responses and help, honestly trying to ring the JSA to be told one thing then another was driving me insane, thanks again, have rang income support and they have said as yourselves I will have to claim, Income support, and they are putting me the relevant forms to fill in, in the post, more stress, thanks again to all of you

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

It might be easier in the long run to fill in forms for all the eventualities and someone will sooner or later, work out exactly which one it is that you are entitled to.