Carers Allowance

Lapchien

I’m currently claiming job seekers allowance and my partner’s terminally ill elderly mother is coming to live with us. I will be caring for them for the whole time she is here, if I claim the carers allowance would I still be entitled to job seekers allowance and would they still expect me to seek employment?

DomRavioli

Log on to direct.gov.uk, put in carers allowance into the search box and it will tell you dependent on your circumstances.

kingfisherblue

I'm pretty sure that you cannot get both JSA and CA at the same time. CA is supposed to be a wage replacement. having saiid that, you can earn up to £100 a week while claiming CA (providing you still fulfill the other criteria of course).

You will not be expected to seek employment if you are in receipt of CA. You will have to attend occasional Work Focused Interviews (I think for carers it is once every three years, unless you are a single parent, in which case it is every six months). At the WFI, there is no pressure to seek work if you are still caring - it is just to check that you have any information you need regarding studying and/or working if you require such information.

To get CA, your MiL must be in receipt of either DLA care component (middle or high rate) or AA (either rate). You must also be caring for her for at least 35 hours a week, earn no more than £100 a week (after tax, NI, pension contributions), not be a full time student, and not be in receipt of a state pension of the same or higher amount that is paid for CA.

If your MiL does not receive DLA or AA and is terminally ill, she may be able to claim under the Special Rules. this means her claim would be fast tracked.

nannytone_2

if you are entitled to carers allowance, you can claim income support instead of JSA

kingfisherblue

The OP has a partner, whom I assume is working, so may not be entitled to IS.

karenx

Is the mother getting mid to high rate dla?

salau2

The Mother is elderly so I assume that she is receiving Attendance Allowance and make sure it is higher rate if it is DLA it should also be higher rate care if the Mother only has 6 months to live. On that basis you can claim Carer’s Allowance. As Carer’s Allowance overlaps with Contributory JSA you would not be paid both. Instead you would be paid the lowest amount and then that would be topped up to reach the other I.e. If JSA is £65 and CA is £55 you would receive £55 CA and top up of £15 JSA. However, being a full time carer is a full time job I do not think you can be really be looking for work, nor should you have to. Moreover, you should consider claiming CA which can be backdated up to 3 months and also get social services involved and look at getting some additional carers in (if necessary) or at least to give you a break sometimes (respite). Also ask social services to make any necessary adaptions (within reason) i.e. stair lift, supports, hoist etc…
If you are on a low income you can claim Income Support to top up your income, though if your partner is working full time you will not be entitled to claim Income Support. If you are entitled to CA then your Income Support will include a carer’s premium. One month to appeal decisions for benefits mentioned.