Carers allowance

cydney65

Hi,

Our next door neighbour has started to look after my partner for just over 35 hours a week. We have told her to claim carer's allowance as she doesn't get any benefits and she doesn't work; she does, though, get spousal maintenance of £1100 a month. The question is will she be entitled to carer's allowance or will the spousal maintenance be counted as income-I'm presuming the latter?!

Many thanks

CydneyX

Robbie64

It's income from earnings that affects Carer's Allowance not maintenance payments.

Does your partner get middle or higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance or either rate of Attendance Allowance? If not then Carer's Allowance cannot be paid.

cydney65

Thank you for your reply. I know that child maintenance is disregarded but that spousal maintenance is not for housing benefit, hence the question. My OH gets high rate care.

CydneyX

Robbie64

For Carer's Allowance it's any income that's ignored except for earnings of more than £100 per week from work. Even works pensions are ignored. Carer's Allowance counts as taxable income though.

Carer's Allowance can also be backdated for up to three months if the person doing the caring has done so for the past three months at the date of claim.

cydney65

Thank you Robbie for your help.

CydneyX