Help Asap Plz, Carers Allowance Claim

shell1965

I am posting this on behalf of my 17 year old step-daughter who has some learning needs, she's been a young carer for her mum for years, mum has mental health issues and back in hospital again the last 6 days, step daughter and mum live together, mum gets DLA High Rate,Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit, HB and Council Tax Paid.
Two weeks ago my step-daughter left college as she is highly sensitive and doesn't cope with stress very well and mum was getting sick again.
It was suggested she claim Carers for looking after her mum, she received the form, filled it out, sent it off mum went in hospital, step daughter received a call she doesnt know from who, but caller said did she wish to carry on the claim as mum would lose money? She has no idea which money they mean and didnt ask as she gets confused, so she declined to carry on the claim!
Does anybody know what mum would actually receive still? Should step daughter try to start the claim again?

Oldernotwiser

shell1965 wrote: »

I am posting this on behalf of my 17 year old step-daughter who has some learning needs, she's been a young carer for her mum for years, mum has mental health issues and back in hospital again the last 6 days, step daughter and mum live together, mum gets DLA High Rate,Child Benefit, Child Tax Credit, HB and Council Tax Paid.
Two weeks ago my step-daughter left college as she is highly sensitive and doesn't cope with stress very well and mum was getting sick again.
It was suggested she claim Carers for looking after her mum, she received the form, filled it out, sent it off mum went in hospital, step daughter received a call she doesnt know from who, but caller said did she wish to carry on the claim as mum would lose money? She has no idea which money they mean and didnt ask as she gets confused, so she declined to carry on the claim!
Does anybody know what mum would actually receive still? Should step daughter try to start the claim again?

If she claims CA, her mother will lose CB and CTC, which will be more. Also her mother will lose this if the daughter has dropped out of college.

I'd really encourage her to return or register with Connexions (which will extend the CB/CTC claim) with a view to restarting college in September. With a learning disability, it really isn't a good idea to drop out of education so early, particularly as it'll have such a negative affect on the family's finances.

Js_Other_Half

Mother will also lose an extra premium (severe disablement premium)on her income support that she gets as the only adult in the house:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/OtherBenefitsAndSupport/DG_068683

"
The Severe Disability Premium

Single rate

If you are single, you may get the lower rate premium if you live alone, no one gets Carer's Allowance for looking after you and you get the middle or highest care component of Disability Living Allowance."

or

http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/moneyandlegal/carersbenefits/Pages/Severe-disability-premiums.aspx



Currently this premium is £53.65 - so the daughter would effectively be taking it off her mother? And as said before, mother would lose Child Benefit, Tax Credits etc

RAS

Best thing is if the daughter gets back into college as this maximises the household income over the next two years.

munchings-n-crunchings

It's inevitable that at some point your step daughter will finish college, but from what you have said, now may not be the best time.

It's correct, what she will receive in claiming CA, will be the same as the Severe Disability Premium paid to her mum.

Another thing that would be affected is the single adult 25% discount for council tax.

It would be better to look at what support is available in college, or if the college runs any courses that would be more suitable.
My autistic son in college started off doing business studies and ICT, but that failed dismally, but then discovered plastering, and loved it as it was a completely different type of environment.

Depending on your step daughter's birth date, she could have a couple more years in college, which could give the family more time to look at finances when they really need to change.

Make an appointment, and get support from connexions and also try student service at the college.

Regards
Munchie

shell1965

Many Thanks for the speedy replies, its made things more clear for me as now I understand what they meant by her mother losing money, my step daughter is registered with connexions although they haven't been able to help her with much yet, she is trying to find a job at the minute but also thinking about a college course of over 16 hours a week at a closer college than she was attending. Does mum lose child benefit and tax credit after 20 weeks being registered with connexions?

munchings-n-crunchings

The Child Benefit extension will be for 20 weeks.

When making enquiries about college courses, it's not necessarily a 16+ hour course.
My son's course was for 2 days, approx from 9 to 4, and this was still classed by the college as Full Time.

Munchie

Oldernotwiser

shell1965 wrote: »

Many Thanks for the speedy replies, its made things more clear for me as now I understand what they meant by her mother losing money, my step daughter is registered with connexions although they haven't been able to help her with much yet, she is trying to find a job at the minute but also thinking about a college course of over 16 hours a week at a closer college than she was attending. Does mum lose child benefit and tax credit after 20 weeks being registered with connexions?

Yes, that's the case and also if she's not in full time education.