Can We Get Carers Allowance?

achtunglady

Hi. My mum has just come out of hospital after having an operation on her foot and is walking with the aid of crutches. If she didnt have this operation, she would have ended up in a wheelchair. She is not able to get in the shower as she has to keep the foot dry and has been advised not to attempt bathing unless someone is with her (she lives alone). To help the foot heal faster, she has been told to rest it in an elevated position. Now she applied for DLA and was told she was not entitled to it and that because she has a daughter (me, only child) that her daughter should come and look after her. I don't begrudge helping mum out, but I have two children one at school, the other one is 2. Mum lives about 3 miles away and i do not drive, i could get on the bus but the fares will be £3.20 a day, plus i will have to rush back and pick up son from school. She mainly needs help to shower/bath herself and wash hair and to cook as she cannot stand for long and her kitchen is a small galley type so she cannot fit a chair in to sit down.

I don't work, my husband does full time. We claim no benefits and only get child benefit and tax credits of £90 a month

Am I entitled to a carers allowance? Could I claim to help with the cost of getting to her place?

yellow_dog

I do believe you have to incapacitated for 6months before you can put in a claim for DLA and therefore can only then claim carers allowance.

filigree_2

To get DLA you have to have been ill for three months and expect to be ill for at least another six months. It's aimed at long term problems not short term crisis.

Sorry not to have more helpful advice to offer.

Mrs_B_12

You can only get Carers allowance if the person your are caring for gets DLA middle or higher rate of care.

grilli

how old is your mum? if she's under 65 and is awarded the DLA middle/high rate care you can then claim CA as long as your earning less than £84 a week and your looking after her for 35 hours or more a week.

They wouldnt disallow a claim because she has family to look after her either.

Penny-Pincher!!

Mrs B has it correct. You have to be in receipt of at least middle rate care and there are conditions.

PP
xx

mclaren_2

simple answer - no. As stated above, the person you care for has to be on DLA and has to be on it for a while and you have to know you will look after the person for a while. An operation on a foot does not make the person disabled thus it was rejected.

Incapacity Benifit is what your mum could claim - thats all.

achtunglady

Mum is 72, her foot will take 3 months to heal and then she is going to have another op on the other foot, so where does this leave her? So because its seen as short term she can get nothing?

Penny-Pincher!!

May I suggest contacting your local Social Services and asking for an assessment. There may be other help on offer that would be suitable and they could put you in contact with a benefit advisor who would help with any relevant form filling to claim whatever she may be entitled too.

I wish you well and hope for a speedy recovery. PM me if you would like a chat and maybe able to help you find a local charity that could help you out with information you may need.

PP
xx

Ted_Hutchinson

achtunglady wrote:

Mum is 72, her foot will take 3 months to heal and then she is going to have another op on the other foot, so where does this leave her? So because its seen as short term she can get nothing?

You are quite right Both Attendance Allowance : Directgov - Disabled people and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) : Directgov - Disabled people are for permanent disabilities. Those whose requirement for care/supervision has existed for 3 months (or 6 months in the case of AA) and which are reasonably expected to require the same level of personal care support for at least the next six months.

The only exception to this is Disability Alliance UK information - New DLA/AA "special rules ... for those whose condition means they are not expected to survive for six months, however most people who die of cancer haven't claimed this entitlement.

Edited to clarify the potential misunderstanding highlighted by Bigbill

bigbill

It would be AA she would claim.

She must have the care or supervision needs for 6 months before she can claim.