Carers Allowance - abused?

Gemstar30

Hello everyone,

I have a brother that lives in the South of England. Our dad lives in the North West as I do.

My father has recently been given Attendance Allowance at the highest rate.

He is very independent and able to look after himself since mum died a few years ago.

I see him every other week and telephone him about twice a week, whilst my brother telephones twice a week and visits every few months.
I am not interested in claiming Carers Allowance as I know that I do not provide the level of care that is required.
However, my brother is of the opinion that there is no way that this can be checked up on if he said that he visits and stays for the required number of hours per week.
Now I know that this is not right but he is adamant that he wants to claim the benefit as there is no one else that can and as he says - it is on offer so why not take it.

It would not affect dad's finances as he is more than self sufficient with his pensions - in fact since he was 65, 20 years ago, he has saved all of his Old Age Pension as he has no need of it.

If my brother did do this, would there be any reprecussions on me?

Thank you

Gemma

GlasweJen

There shouldn't be any repercussions on you but your brother could be done for benefit fraud, the DWP aren't stupid, they'll see that he lives miles away and that it isn't feasible for him to be giving 35 hours a week care.

ETA your dad has to sign a declaration saying that your brother provides 35 hours care per week so he could end up in trouble too. Is it really worth it?

Bonny1

Shameless.... and I'm sure they're not stupid enough to not take his address into account.

Take nothing to do with it...

Oldernotwiser

Never mind the abuse of CA, why should your father be getting AA (at the higher rate) if you can say, "He is very independent and able to look after himself since mum died a few years ago."?

GlasweJen

Lol Older, I never even clicked on that!

zzzLazyDaisy

It is very unlikely that your brother would meet the income requirements anyway - unless he is a dependent of someone who is not claiming benefits.

This is because in order to qualify for carer's allowance he must be earning less than [STRIKE]£93[/STRIKE] £100* a week, and not claiming any other benefits. How is he currently supporting himself, and keeping a roof over his head, if that is his situation?

Also, as others have said, your father would also be involved in the fraudulent claim. Is it worth it?

Actually, I do have some sympathy, as I have to pay for my carers out of my DLA, but cannot use the carer's allowance to help with this as I don't know anyone who would fulfill the strict criteria, and I am not prepared to make a false declaration. On the other hand, if I could use carer's allowance to help pay for my care, it would reduce my bill, and really help me a lot. But that's the way the system goes.

*edit - thanks to Kazzah for the correction

PipsoG

These kinds of posts worry me - why anybody thinks they should get a benefit for looking after somebody when they live 100's miles apart and secondly you get paid AA or DLA if you can show that you have the need for Personal Care - you don't actually have to be getting the care.

I am sure that people who get either AA or DLA don't want to be paid the benefit - they would much prefer NOT to be disabled!

kazzah60

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

It is very unlikely that your brother would meet the income requirements anyway - unless he is a dependent of someone who is not claiming benefits.

This is because in order to qualify for carer's allowance he must be earning less than £93 a week, and not claiming any other benefits. How is he currently supporting himself, and keeping a roof over his head, if that is his situation?

Also, as others have said, your father would also be involved in the fraudulent claim. Is it worth it?

Actually, I do have some sympathy, as I have to pay for my carers out of my DLA, but cannot use the carer's allowance to help with this as I don't know anyone who would fulfill the strict criteria, and I am not prepared to make a false declaration. On the other hand, if I could use carer's allowance to help pay for my care, it would reduce my bill, and really help me a lot. But that's the way the system goes.

to clarify this post slightly as of April 2010 the earnings limit for being able to claim CA rose to £100 per week
hth
Karen

babymoo

PipsoG wrote: »

and secondly you get paid AA or DLA if you can show that you have the need for Personal Care - you don't actually have to be getting the care.

I am sure that people who get either AA or DLA don't want to be paid the benefit - they would much prefer NOT to be disabled!

If he is very independant and capable of looking after himself after his wife died then he doesnt need the care regardless of whether he is getting it or not.

If I didn't get the care that I do get I wouldnt be capable of looking after myself and most things would fall by the wayside.

beth58_2

Another abuse of the benefits system, which makes it harder for genuine ppl to get the benefit/support they're entitled to.

Your brother is planning to commit fraud and why does your father need AA if he's fully independant.. Is this not a fraudulent claim?

If your brother does make a claim, I hope they reassess your fathers entitlement and decide he does not need the benefit.

Gemstar30

beth58 wrote: »

Another abuse of the benefits system, which makes it harder for genuine ppl to get the benefit/support they're entitled to.

Your brother is planning to commit fraud and why does your father need AA if he's fully independant.. Is this not a fraudulent claim?

If your brother does make a claim, I hope they reassess your fathers entitlement and decide he does not need the benefit.

Hello,

Please don't have a go at me, I am only asking the question. I am not involved but my brother just does what he feels like doing. All I wanted to know is if he did make a claim, would I be affected because I do more for my dad than he does.

Yes my father is independent, he looks after himself quite well. I do know that his GP suggested that he may be entitled to it as he has 'dizzy spells' day and night (not when he is sleeping that is!) and has been taken into A&E quite a few times with it. He went to the local Council Welfare Rights Office and they helped fill out the form for him. I do know that his GP confirmed what had been put on the form.
Please don't suggest that my dad has done anything wrong, if he has then both the Council and the Doctor are wrong as well!

Gemma