Carers

meluvnext

it would be nice if they could actually look into seeing if the people entitled to carers are actually caring for the person they claim to be!

starchild1972

DH used to be a carer (before his own health problems) he got paid £6 an hour, the council paid the agency £38 per visit. His visits were to be no longer than 1 hr and he was not allowed to do ANY personal care! All he was allowed to do was check they were up and had eaten. He even reported one chap hadn't eaten for more than 3 days (he had to report to the council and his agency) and could he prepare him a meal. Council said no because the cost to them would be an extra £15 a visit and agency said no because they were not insured to provide food. Now the chap's family had been looking after him but the SS in their wisdom decided that he would be better off in the care of the council whilst "independently living" as opposed to being surrounded by his family and grandchildren. They were show people so were always travelling!
At least his family made sure he got fed and as DH said, he had probably been born on the road so would have been happier dying on the road!
DH left not long after that and made me promise to tell the kids to buy him a one way ticket to Switzerland if he ever got to that state!

Rev

I know this is an oldish thread but I just had to have a mini rant.

I'm 32. I've been my mum's carer since I was 6 years of age and I think carers allowance is an insult.

I work 24/7, I get no holidays, I get no time off, I run a house, wash clean, cook, shop etc. I clean up sick, crap, give injections, pills etc. I don't get to leave work and go home to chill, I don't get to spend time with friends.

According to the princes trust, carers save the government between 83 and 87 billion pound a year. And what do we get in return? £53 a week. Gee, thanks.

I also pay my own dental, medical etc because carers allowance is classed as the government paying me a wage to do a job. Yeah, thanks for that 32p an hour. And here was me thinking slave labour was illegal in the UK. So it basically means, if I need medication, I go without until I can afford it.

I'm sorry if I sound bitter, it's probably because I am a little, it's a job that is emotionally and physically draining - constantly. And add to that people thinking you're just lazy and unemployed because they don't see you leave for work in the morning.

As you can tell, I think the government's treatment of carers is absolutely appalling.

Swampmonster

Rev wrote: »

I know this is an oldish thread but I just had to have a mini rant.

I'm 32. I've been my mum's carer since I was 6 years of age and I think carers allowance is an insult.

I work 24/7, I get no holidays, I get no time off, I run a house, wash clean, cook, shop etc. I clean up sick, crap, give injections, pills etc. I don't get to leave work and go home to chill, I don't get to spend time with friends.

According to the princes trust, carers save the government between 83 and 87 billion pound a year. And what do we get in return? £53 a week. Gee, thanks.

I also pay my own dental, medical etc because carers allowance is classed as the government paying me a wage to do a job. Yeah, thanks for that 32p an hour. And here was me thinking slave labour was illegal in the UK. So it basically means, if I need medication, I go without until I can afford it.

I'm sorry if I sound bitter, it's probably because I am a little, it's a job that is emotionally and physically draining - constantly. And add to that people thinking you're just lazy and unemployed because they don't see you leave for work in the morning.

As you can tell, I think the government's treatment of carers is absolutely appalling.

I know what you mean.

I've often thought Carers should get free prescriptions as we need to be fighting fit to be able to care.

I too have been in the position many a time of not being able to afford to collect a prescription or paying for it in coppers!! Not only does it mean you cannot care as well if you are ill, the person you are caring for is more usually vunerable to infection so can have a double whammy effect.

DX2

Can I ask if you are both claiming CA why aren't either of you getting the carer premium within Income support thus leading to free dental/prescription costs?

Do you have money coming into the household from another source, maybe?

Rev wrote: »

I also pay my own dental, medical etc because carers allowance is classed as the government paying me a wage to do a job. Yeah, thanks for that 32p an hour. And here was me thinking slave labour was illegal in the UK. So it basically means, if I need medication, I go without until I can afford it.

Swampmonster wrote: »

I know what you mean.

I've often thought Carers should get free prescriptions as we need to be fighting fit to be able to care.

I too have been in the position many a time of not being able to afford to collect a prescription or paying for it in coppers!!

Rev

DX2 wrote: »

Can I ask if you are both claiming CA why aren't either of you getting the carer premium within Income support thus leading to free dental/prescription costs?

Do you have money coming into the household from another source, maybe?

Sorry, I didn't see this.

I've no idea. I have been told i'm not entitled to income support by both the benefits agency and the CAB. I have applied twice and been rejected twice.

My entire income is £53.30 per week carers allowance. My mother gets DLA, obviously. And her pension.

Oldernotwiser

Rev wrote: »

Sorry, I didn't see this.

I've no idea. I have been told i'm not entitled to income support by both the benefits agency and the CAB. I have applied twice and been rejected twice.

My entire income is £53.30 per week carers allowance. My mother gets DLA, obviously. And her pension.

So who pays for your rent and council tax?

eyeinthesky

I'm going to get flamed for this but isn't the care component of DLA meant to pay for care needs?

anguk

eyeinthesky wrote: »

I'm going to get flamed for this but isn't the care component of DLA meant to pay for care needs?

Yes you're right, but it's to pay for the care needs of the person who needs care. For example for some people this could mean extra laundry costs or equipment to help them.

anguk

Rev wrote: »

Sorry, I didn't see this.

I've no idea. I have been told i'm not entitled to income support by both the benefits agency and the CAB. I have applied twice and been rejected twice.

My entire income is £53.30 per week carers allowance. My mother gets DLA, obviously. And her pension.

Don't forget carers allowance has gone up, it's a massive £55.55 now. Don't spend that raise all at once.

Do you live with your mother? If so they may take in to account the benefits/pension she receives because they'll assess benefits by the income coming into the household.

If you live on your own I'd check again, I've just done a quick calculation on the direct.gov website using estimated figures for a single person paying rent and council tax benefit. If the only income you have is carers allowance you'd also get approx £40 income support and housing and council tax benefit.

Try doing a benefits estimate and see what it says:
https://www.dwpe-services.direct.gov.uk/portal/page/portal/ba/lp