DLA & Carers Allowance

madmaxybaby

I receive Carers Allowance as I care for my son. I have now been awarded DLA for myself due to illness so can I still claim Carers Allowance as I still care for my son?

rogerblack

Yes.
Questions about your DLA may be raised if your caring responsibilities seem to prove that you can do certain things you claimed you can't, but there is no blanket ban.

sooperb

I was once aware of a married couple who both received Carers Allowance for each other yet both had care packages! Apparently there is no legal definition of what constitutes caring. I fail to see how a husband or wife could receive CA as surely what they do for each other comes under the aegis of being married? I would apply this to parents too with perhaps the exception of those caring for severely mentally/physically disabled children whose needs exist 24 hours a day.

Tehya

Sooperb I see your point but Carer's Allowance is paid is as a wage replacment, not a benefit as such that is why it is taxable unlike income based JSA or ESA.

I care for my husband and to be here all the time I HAD to give up work because he can not look after himself. I can also understand the view that a couple should care for each other under the aegis of being married but what I do for my husband would not be seen in most marriages. Without CA I would have to leave my hubby and go out to work (which believe me after caring solid for the past two years without a break is a very, very desirable idea) but as social services wouldn't take over unless I leave the marriage and home completly then it's down to me.

OP - yes you can claim both just be careful that whatever you do for your son does not contradict with the reason you get DLA for yourself.

There are a few couples/members of family who receive CA for looking after each other as care comes under many different guises i.e. a mental health patient might be suicidal so can not be left alone whereby her/his partner may have physical needs. I know people can struggle with this idea but unless you are in the claimants shoes you can not know how they cope. I myself am disabled yet I care full time 24/7 but I haven't and will not claim for myself even though I could.