IS and disability to IS and Carers

Zee83

Hello all,
I hope you can help.l

I am claiming IS and an additional proportion is given due to my illnesses. I am not able to apply for IB due to the fact that my husband worked and I was a housewife/stay at mother wife so did not make enough contributions.

I am in no way proud of myself that I am claiming benefits and hate that my illness holds me back (I have just had a mechanical valve replacement and chronic lymph oedema and find it very humiliating when I have to attend Medicals with arrogant, mindless 'doctors' who treat you like crminals!

Anyway, my kids are all grown up and I have been seperated from my husband but am now finding myself to be a full time carer of my mother who is blind and has dementia and needs 24 hours care.
I want to move to carers allowance now and wanted to know if they will automatically take off the disability component from IS should my CA application be accepted, or would they cancel my IS and make me reapply (as telling them I a FT carer would imply I am fit to work)?

Does anyone have any ideas. I know I should call the 'experts', but I have come across so many incompetent people in respect of DWP, I'd rather get some tips from you lovely guys first xx

Indie_Kid

Zee83 wrote: »

I want to move to carers allowance now and wanted to know if they will automatically take off the disability component from IS should by CA application be accepted, or would they cancel my IS and make me reapply (as telling them I a FT carer would imply I am fit to work)?

Carers aren't required to look for work - hence the IS entitlement.

MrsManda

Zee83 wrote: »

I want to move to carers allowance now and wanted to know if they will automatically take off the disability component from IS should my CA application be accepted, or would they cancel my IS and make me reapply (as telling them I a FT carer would imply I am fit to work)?

You'll still be entitled to Income Support if you are a carer. I don't know if you will still get the disability component but you may get the carer's premium instead (or as well as but I've no idea about the mechanics).

I know you've had some bad experiences with the DWP but if you are going to apply for carers allowance I really do suggest you call the benefits helpline and ask them to fill out the forms with you over the phone as you should get your answer quicker. Just make sure you take the name of the person you are speaking to and make a note of the time/date of the phone call in case something happens (good practise when calling anyone).

https://www.direct.gov.uk have a guide to financial support for carers which can be found here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/MoneyMatters/DG_10037637