Will I be eligible for carers allowance?

Wee_Willy_Harris

The OP has asked a perfectly reasonable question. We live in a country where, until very recently, a family with an income of £58,000 would qualify for tax credits, so why is it so unreasonable for a person to need to ask about the qualifying factors for carers allowance? A parent can claim carers allowance for their child, a person on disability benefits can claim as a carer, a husband and wife can be mutual carers.... so a wife claiming for her husband should seem a reasonable enough enquiry.

As for the posters going all "competative" on their disabilities, not unlike the most crass version of Monty Pythons "Four Yorkshiremen".... Shame on you. Regardless of how disabled you or a family member may be, this will do nothing to lessen the considerable (if comparatively short term) impact that this event will have on the OP and her partner. Sometimes, peoples vicious lack of compassion disgusts me. Shame on you.

For those not familiar with the "Four Yorkshiremen"..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13JK5kChbRw ..... For context, just replace all references to poverty with increasing levels of disability.

kingfisherblue

Pheobesmove wrote: »

A relative thought we might be able to claim and why should we miss out when thousands of others sponge the state dry!!

I have to put his socks on for him before I go to work as he can't do this at the moment, however he has continued to work rather than become one of the Jeremy Kyle nation! !Why, because he knows sitting doing diddly squat at home will make him feel worse.!

NB . Our toilet is upstairs and to be honest I wouldn't be happy leaving him upstairs ( far fetched i know but how would he get down / out quickly in a fire?) so I guess unless i fit an escape slide in, a bucket will have to do or I'll !borrow a portapotti off someone!!

I have only quoted three paragraphs, which are the ones I wish to comment on.

First, although you state that others sponge off the state, I have (perhaps wrongly) interpreted this as meaning carers sponging. The thread is about Carer's Allowance, which is why I have read it this way - after all you mention no other benefit claimants. Please let me reassure you, carers are not spongers. To receive the grand total of £55.55 a week, we have to care for somebody with significant care needs for a minimum of 35 hours a week. This is nowhere near the minimum wage and is lower than somebody on JSA (except for under 21s). We cannot earn more than £100 a week without losing all of our CA, regardless of how many hours care we give - in many cases both day and night. Full time students and most pensioners cannot claim CA at all, as CA is supposed to replace a wage (do you know anywhere that pays £55.55 a week for 35+ hours?!). Many of us care for our loved ones for in excess of 100 hours a week and cannot take on paid work due to our caring responsibilities.

Second paragraph quoted - yes, I'm technically at home during the day. No, I don't watch Jeremy Kyle. I spend my time chasing up appointments, attending appointments and meetings, attending conferences about disabled children in order to lobby for better care for them, etc. I even spend some of my time sleeping when my son is at school - but then, I'm up with him a minimum of four times a night, so catching up on some sleep is essential. Incidentally, I also do voluntary work that fits around my caring responsibilities. This helps me to keep my brain working, satisfies (to a small extent) my work ethic, and gives me interests other than disability issues.

Third paragraph quoted - I wouldn't be happy leaving somebody who is incapacitated upstairs either. It could, as you say, be dangerous. Instead, I would ask for an occupational therapist to supply a commode for the time your OH will need it. OK, so I know it isn't the most pleasantt piece of furniture that you can have, but it is only temporary.

I also suggest that you consider leaving a couple of flasks of boiling water near your OH's chair, so that he can comfortably and safely make himself a drink during the day. Although making a hot drink whilst on crutches might not be a problem in itself, carrying it from the kitchen to the lounge would be difficult and risky in terms of scalds. At the same time, you don't want to patronise your OH by making the drinks and then putting them into flasks - better to leave hot water and the jar of coffee near his chair, so he can make his own drink IMO.

I hope that the op is successful.

Oldernotwiser

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

As for the posters going all "competative" on their disabilities, not unlike the most crass version of Monty Pythons "Four Yorkshiremen".... Shame on you. Regardless of how disabled you or a family member may be, this will do nothing to lessen the considerable (if comparatively short term) impact that this event will have on the OP and her partner. Sometimes, peoples vicious lack of compassion disgusts me. Shame on you.

For those not familiar with the "Four Yorkshiremen"..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13JK5kChbRw ..... For context, just replace all references to poverty with increasing levels of disability.

Actually, "At Last the 1948 Show" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eDaSvRO9xA - a common mistake.;)

dark_lady

kingfisherblue wrote: »

I have only quoted three paragraphs, which are the ones I wish to comment on.

First, although you state that others sponge off the state, I have (perhaps wrongly) interpreted this as meaning carers sponging. The thread is about Carer's Allowance, which is why I have read it this way - after all you mention no other benefit claimants. Please let me reassure you, carers are not spongers. To receive the grand total of £55.55 a week, we have to care for somebody with significant care needs for a minimum of 35 hours a week. This is nowhere near the minimum wage and is lower than somebody on JSA (except for under 21s). We cannot earn more than £100 a week without losing all of our CA, regardless of how many hours care we give - in many cases both day and night. Full time students and most pensioners cannot claim CA at all, as CA is supposed to replace a wage (do you know anywhere that pays £55.55 a week for 35+ hours?!). Many of us care for our loved ones for in excess of 100 hours a week and cannot take on paid work due to our caring responsibilities.

Second paragraph quoted - yes, I'm technically at home during the day. No, I don't watch Jeremy Kyle. I spend my time chasing up appointments, attending appointments and meetings, attending conferences about disabled children in order to lobby for better care for them, etc. I even spend some of my time sleeping when my son is at school - but then, I'm up with him a minimum of four times a night, so catching up on some sleep is essential. Incidentally, I also do voluntary work that fits around my caring responsibilities. This helps me to keep my brain working, satisfies (to a small extent) my work ethic, and gives me interests other than disability issues.

Third paragraph quoted - I wouldn't be happy leaving somebody who is incapacitated upstairs either. It could, as you say, be dangerous. Instead, I would ask for an occupational therapist to supply a commode for the time your OH will need it. OK, so I know it isn't the most pleasantt piece of furniture that you can have, but it is only temporary.

I also suggest that you consider leaving a couple of flasks of boiling water near your OH's chair, so that he can comfortably and safely make himself a drink during the day. Although making a hot drink whilst on crutches might not be a problem in itself, carrying it from the kitchen to the lounge would be difficult and risky in terms of scalds. At the same time, you don't want to patronise your OH by making the drinks and then putting them into flasks - better to leave hot water and the jar of coffee near his chair, so he can make his own drink IMO.

I hope that the op is successful.

This is a very well worded post. Carers are the only people who HAVE to work 35 hours a week or more 365 days a year for their benefit.:T

Lady_gaga

OP, can't you just take a couple of weeks holiday to help him out over the worst of it? I'd have thought that would be the first thought not what money you could get!! you'd still be getting your salary and he'd be getting ssp, may have to pull the reigns in a tad but doesn't put you on the breadline.

Please don't knock the great work carers do, they get "paid" less than those on JSA!!!! now that in my opinion is all wrong...

margaretclare

The rule is that you don't get carer's allowance if you have another income. I know this because of the many, many older people who have been giving care over many years to a disabled relative, maybe spouse, maybe other relative, and then they reach the age of state retirement pension. Immediately they lose the carer's allowance - explanation given is that it is an 'income replacement'. Maybe designed to encourage people to stay at home and do caring instead of going out to work.

After any form of hip surgery you are encouraged to be up on crutches as soon as possible. I've had replacements and revisions, and one of the things that the physios teach you is how to cope with stairs on crutches, so it's not necessary to be marooned on one floor. Also to be as mobile as possible, move around on crutches - your OH is not meant to vegetate sitting in a chair all day.

About Jeremy Kyle - I watch this occasionally but it makes me want to weep for the future of my country. JK to his credit really does 'tell it as it is' and he lambasts some of his 'guests' in no uncertain language. It's a mistake to see this show as 'entertainment' - it's a tragedy.

Milkshock

skintandscared wrote: »

This thread makes me so sad. What is the world coming to when you know your partner is going to be slightly incapacitated and the first question is can I get extra money for it??! How about you just take care of him because you love him?

blame governments for the high cost of living that means that 30k to care for 2 people is not enough.

rogerblack

margaretclare wrote: »

The rule is that you don't get carer's allowance if you have another income.

This is incorrect.
You don't get carers allowance if you don't meet the eligibility criteria.
One of these is that - after all the allowances - you don't earn more than 100/week.
In principle, the OP might be eligible, if, after tax, all allowances, and ... they earn 20K, if they pay 39800/year into a personal pension, from savings.

DomRavioli

Shame on us? How dare you! I work 50 hours a week for the NHS, then care for my parents! My mother is terminal, and my father has parkinsons, and I don't ask for a penny. Why can't the OP claim under the special leave which is inbuilt into 99% of contracts, or take holidays as earlier suggested. I think you need to go and volunteer for people who have long term problems with no hope of getting better, or even stable, before you start casting shame. Shame on you, you preposterous little person. Spend your time helping others, instead of posting on a bloody forum.

skintandscared_2

Wee_Willy_Harris wrote: »

As for the posters going all "competative" on their disabilities, not unlike the most crass version of Monty Pythons "Four Yorkshiremen".... Shame on you. Regardless of how disabled you or a family member may be, this will do nothing to lessen the considerable (if comparatively short term) impact that this event will have on the OP and her partner. Sometimes, peoples vicious lack of compassion disgusts me. Shame on you.

My partner has mental health issues which mean he sometimes can't leave the bedroom, let alone the flat. If he doesn't work, he doesn't get paid full stop, let alone SSP. I work full time (with a 2 hour daily commute) and "care" for him in as much as I do ALL household chores so he has a lovely calm environment to live in which helps his condition. Do I enquire as to whether I could get a free cleaner in once a week to help me? No. Do I complain when I have to take time off because he's having an episode and can't be left alone? No. I get on with it! So, am I REALLY lacking in compassion because I don't understand why a wife would want to be paid to look after her husband?!