Can my son get carers allowance for looking after his dad?

LynV

My son is in uni 2 days a week and other than that is at home. could he get carers allowance for looking after his dad. I work so cannot claim and am out every day 9 - 5.

cattie

Providing his father is on medium or high rate of DLA care allowance or claiming AA, & he will be caring for his father at least 35hrs per week & isn't classified as being in full time education & doesn't have an income of £100 per week, then he should be able to make a claim for carer's.

epitome

As long as dad is getting middle or higher rate of "DLA care component"

The major sticking point here will be the university course, most University courses are correctly referred to as Fulltime even if only 2 days a week.

It is up to the University to give him a letter saying if they class his course as full time or part time. If F/T he won't get Carer's Allowance

dseventy

Assuming he does 2 days a week at uni and has at least the equivalant again in home work, how is he going to fit in 35 hours a week of care? Assuming he is a normal 20 something student and goes out etc, I can't see how he can fit it in, not to mention adding 35 hours of giving care to a young lad?

D70

creditcardhelp11

dseventy wrote: »

Assuming he does 2 days a week at uni and has at least the equivalant again in home work, how is he going to fit in 35 hours a week of care? Assuming he is a normal 20 something student and goes out etc, I can't see how he can fit it in, not to mention adding 35 hours of giving care to a young lad?

D70

Baloney!



There are thousands of young carers in the UK. I studied full time at University and was a full time carer (35+ hours per week) for a family member. If you can get a letter from the University stating that you are studying part-time and not spending more than “21hours per week in attending a course of education”.

Dunroamin

creditcardhelp11 wrote: »

Baloney!



There are thousands of young carers in the UK. I studied full time at University and was a full time carer (35+ hours per week) for a family member. If you can get a letter from the University stating that you are studying part-time and not spending more than “21hours per week in attending a course of education”.

If he's at university for two whole days, it's highly unlikely that he's a part time student. Courses are either designated as full or part time, which is what matters.

LynV

That is just a technicality! He does 2 days which equates to around 9 hours at uni and then can study at home around caring for his dad. How that can be classed as full time I have no idea. Its just wrong that he has been turned down for carers allowance!

FBaby

Does it mean dad can do without care for two days? surely it is about his needs not what suits the son around his studies?

Soapn

LynV wrote: »

That is just a technicality! He does 2 days which equates to around 9 hours at uni and then can study at home around caring for his dad. How that can be classed as full time I have no idea. Its just wrong that he has been turned down for carers allowance!

why should he be paid to look after him? and who looks after him when your son is at Uni for the 2 days a week?

BigAunty

LynV wrote: »

That is just a technicality! He does 2 days which equates to around 9 hours at uni and then can study at home around caring for his dad. How that can be classed as full time I have no idea. Its just wrong that he has been turned down for carers allowance!

Not a 'technicality' but a basic rule. It is irrelevant how little he feels he is physically present at Uni, if he's designated as being in full time studies, then he can't get CA. It's up the institution to determine what is classed as full time study, not a subjective assessment of how little he needs to be in class.



Who cannot get Carer's Allowance

Education

You can't get Carer's Allowance if you're in full-time education with 21 hours or more a week of supervised study - or doing a course described as full-time by the college or establishment providing it.



http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Caringforsomeone/DG_10012525

LynV

The two days he goes in he is not there till 2 so is with his dad all morning. I am home at 5 and then son gets home at 7. So he is there most of the time to help his dad. He may be 23 but he is a homebod, does not drink or smoke and is happy to study around helping his dad.