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Carer's allowance...still entitled?
Fading_Star
Posts: 22 Forumite
Hoping someone can help me with this as I'm getting a bit panicky now.
I've been looking after a relative for over a year now. Recently, I was offered a full time job position. They knew about my caring responsibilities so I decided to accept the offer and see how it went.
Before starting work I had to do training for six days. The training began at the end of November 2010 and lasted over three weeks. I informed the carer's allowance unit, and they suspended my allowance until I could send in payslips so that they could see if I was still entitled or not.
Over the three weeks, I earned less than £400 in total. Two of the three weeks I earned less than £100, and one week I earned over.
After the training I had to wait to be given an official start date. However, for various reasons I did not feel it would work out and declined the offer. I told the carer's allowance unit that I would no longer be starting the job and they added it to my case notes.
I sent in a change of circumstances form along with my three payslips. I assumed that I would be allowed to have earned £100 and would only not receive the allowance for the week that I earned more than £100.
That was back in December and I have still not heard anything since, and am not receiving payment. I called and was told that my case has gone to a decision maker, which I'm a bit worried about. I'd assumed it would be straight forward, but now I'm scared that there's an issue. I've rang a few times since and was told there's been a backlog in cases and it's taking longer than usual for the decision maker to process cases.
I'm really worried now that I won't receive the money from November onwards (when they originally suspended my claim), and I'd been relying on getting it to pay bills. I'm also worried about what I should be doing now...I am still caring for my relative but don't know if I should be getting the allowance/will get it for the time I am caring now.
Anyone know where I'd stand on this?
Thanks in advance for replies
I've been looking after a relative for over a year now. Recently, I was offered a full time job position. They knew about my caring responsibilities so I decided to accept the offer and see how it went.
Before starting work I had to do training for six days. The training began at the end of November 2010 and lasted over three weeks. I informed the carer's allowance unit, and they suspended my allowance until I could send in payslips so that they could see if I was still entitled or not.
Over the three weeks, I earned less than £400 in total. Two of the three weeks I earned less than £100, and one week I earned over.
After the training I had to wait to be given an official start date. However, for various reasons I did not feel it would work out and declined the offer. I told the carer's allowance unit that I would no longer be starting the job and they added it to my case notes.
I sent in a change of circumstances form along with my three payslips. I assumed that I would be allowed to have earned £100 and would only not receive the allowance for the week that I earned more than £100.
That was back in December and I have still not heard anything since, and am not receiving payment. I called and was told that my case has gone to a decision maker, which I'm a bit worried about. I'd assumed it would be straight forward, but now I'm scared that there's an issue. I've rang a few times since and was told there's been a backlog in cases and it's taking longer than usual for the decision maker to process cases.
I'm really worried now that I won't receive the money from November onwards (when they originally suspended my claim), and I'd been relying on getting it to pay bills. I'm also worried about what I should be doing now...I am still caring for my relative but don't know if I should be getting the allowance/will get it for the time I am caring now.
Anyone know where I'd stand on this?
Thanks in advance for replies
0
Comments
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As long as your caree is still getting the correct level of DLA or AA and you are no longer earning then you'll be fine. I'm not sure why it is taking so long but a decision maker isn't anything scary, she or he will just look at the facts and then looking at the amount your earned will decide which weeks they can pay you for so please try not to worry. Oh and because it is them that is holding up your claim you will get it all backdated too.0
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