Carer allowence and returning to work

rev229

I receive carers allowence as I have DD12 who has special needs. I am returning to my career after a 7yr break. The first 5 month will be study with an average of 15 hrs per week in a placement. I will receive a small bursary about £1000 to help with travel childcare and books etc. I will have no salary until I am employed after completing the course. Do I need to inform them about this course as I will not be earning the £100 per week?
Also when I return to work it will be as and when ie nothing for 1-2 them 2-3 days
Some weeks I would qualify for carers others I won't not too sure what would happen in those circumstances.
I may have to have a longer period without work if my child has surgery. I would not be entitled to paid leave, won't have contracted hours so would I still qualify for CA? Can't get my head around what to do!

DX2

rev229 wrote: »

The first 5 month will be study with an average of 15 hrs per week in a placement

Will you be studying at home aswell?

MrsManda

Is your course counted as full-time or part-time?
As well as your 15 hour a week placement are you expected to attend any other classes/lectures etc...?

Richie-from-the-Boro

rev229 wrote: »

I receive carers allowence as I have DD12 who has special needs. I am returning to my career after a 7yr break. The first 5 month will be study with an average of 15 hrs per week in a placement. I will receive a small bursary about £1000 to help with travel childcare and books etc. I will have no salary until I am employed after completing the course. Do I need to inform them about this course as I will not be earning the £100 per week?
Also when I return to work it will be as and when ie nothing for 1-2 them 2-3 days
Some weeks I would qualify for carers others I won't not too sure what would happen in those circumstances.
I may have to have a longer period without work if my child has surgery. I would not be entitled to paid leave, won't have contracted hours so would I still qualify for CA? Can't get my head around what to do!

~ ~ any change in / of circumstances ~ ~

- student
- revenue
- border agency
- council tax
- housing benefit
- pensions
- DLA
- etc


All government departments have a ' catch all ' phrase, don't get caught out by it.

~ ~ any change in / of circumstances ~ ~

BTW congrats of your ' placement ' but tell the relevant authorities of your proposed new circumstances and see what they say. Most / all I hope would be sympathetic, you are doing exactly what the government wants you do do. Either way the catch all will catch all that don't tell ......... the course you are on will possibly report it anyway and you will look as if you were one of those the phrase was designed to catch.

jetta_wales

With varying hours and earnings per week they put your claim as suspended then you send them in your pay slips every month or two and they assess them and pay you for the weeks you were eligible. They can really drag their feet though so don't budget to need the money just take it as an extra as and when it comes. When the recession started to really bite, my OH who was not on a full wage yet as he was a third year apprentice, often had varying weeks which would yo-yo from eligible to not depending on how many days work they had going each week. His wage is better now though so we're totally out of eligibility for Carers Allowance now.

happy_lass

rev229 wrote: »

I receive carers allowence as I have DD12 who has special needs. I am returning to my career after a 7yr break. The first 5 month will be study with an average of 15 hrs per week in a placement. I will receive a small bursary about £1000 to help with travel childcare and books etc. I will have no salary until I am employed after completing the course. Do I need to inform them about this course as I will not be earning the £100 per week?
Also when I return to work it will be as and when ie nothing for 1-2 them 2-3 days
Some weeks I would qualify for carers others I won't not too sure what would happen in those circumstances.
I may have to have a longer period without work if my child has surgery. I would not be entitled to paid leave, won't have contracted hours so would I still qualify for CA? Can't get my head around what to do!

ok, if the establishment where you are going to do your studying say that your course is full time (even though you might only do part time hours) then yes you need to tell them because you wont be entitled to carers allowance anymore. To be honest with you, i would just phone them up and tell them everything, they will be able to advise you better. :beer:

rev229

Course is part time 2 study days per month, with a placement needing 15hrs average per week. Less some weeks than others. Off course I will still be caring for my child as she will be at school as normal so no change to caring duties! But at least i will escape back to the workplace for respite! I will ring DWP, don't hold out much hope of a sensible reply due to variation of hours etc! No doubt they will confuse me and themselves explaining the rules!!

jetta_wales

rev229 wrote: »

Course is part time 2 study days per month, with a placement needing 15hrs average per week. Less some weeks than others. Off course I will still be caring for my child as she will be at school as normal so no change to caring duties! But at least i will escape back to the workplace for respite! I will ring DWP, don't hold out much hope of a sensible reply due to variation of hours etc! No doubt they will confuse me and themselves explaining the rules!!

Honestly it's not that bad and the Carers people are really nice even though they're fairly slow lol. You'll just have to make sure you keep your payslips and submit them all every so often and they'll pay you once they have them (and they've sat in their draw for a week or three lol) but it they do this with lots of people so it's not an uncmon situation at all. Just means you won't get money each week but as a lump sum for the eligible weeks once they get your payslips.

rev229

rang them Friday explained the situation, no wiser after I spoke to them!

jetta_wales

rev229 wrote: »

rang them Friday explained the situation, no wiser after I spoke to them!

What didn't you understand?