In a muddle!

pinkroses123

Hi!

Sorry to register and jump straight in with asking questions!

I'm a carer for my dad, and recieve carers allowance. I hadn't been working when I applied for the carers allowance, but was told that if I did more than 16 hours a week I was to let them know. I'd thought that the man on the phone had told me if it was under 16 hours and not permenant, then I didn't need to phone and let them know.

I was offered some temporary work which was 10 hours a week, and did in total about 7 weeks. They've asked me back, but it will be anywhere between 10-19 hours a week. It not permanent, it's just as and when they need me really. But I knew I'd have let them know, so I've been looking into it and have realised I've misunderstood what I was allowed to work. The 7 weeks that I worked, I recieved over the £100 per week I was allowed to earn.

With our working tax credits, DH said I'd just need to send off my proof of earnings in March, and they'd let us know what we owed them. But with carers allowance, can I do the same or do I need to tell them now? I'm a bit worried that I'm going to tell them I've worked it and that I'll get in to trouble for not letting them know at the time, and that they'll demand the money back straight away. Plus, with me only working as and when I'm needed, will I need to ring them up every week that I work, or will they cancel my allowance and I'll have to reapply when the work comes to an end?

Thank you in advance!

AsknAnswer2

You need to tell them now. They are different to HMRC. HMRC work on the last tax year's earnings, whereas DWP work on current income.

pinkroses123

Ok, thanks. Will I get into trouble for not letting them know earlier? I don't want to be done for fraudulently claiming!

RAS

Hi

This is small beer and a mistake not major fraud. Knuckles rapped maybe.

BadgerIOW

Contact carers allowance straightaway by phone and then put everything in writing,if you can provide copies of your wage slips that would help. If you incurred any expenses for your job then these may be deducted from your wages which could bring you earnings below the limit, once you've informed the DWP they will get you to complete a DSX788 form for this. After that any overpayment can be worked out. You wont be expected to pay it all back in one go (unless you want to), you can sort out a rate that is affordable with the DWP debt recovery centre.
If you contact them and declare the work albeit late then its unlikley that the DWP will view it as anything other than a minor issue.

pinkroses123

Thank you! I'll give them a ring today. It would be handy if it were all linked up so that they could see when I'm being paid, like when I pay NI or tax etc, if all benefits were informed. Do they usually ask for a P60 at the end of the year? I'll send off my wage slip after speaking to them to get it all sorted. I don't think I'll have incurred any expenses.