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

Caz3121

Is his course classed as a part time or full time course?

Sixer

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!

Of course it can! A uni course doesn't only comprise taught hours. My degree comprised 4 x 1 hour lectures and 4 x 1-2 hour tutorials a week. But that was less an a third of the work I actually did. Probably less than a quarter if you count reading past the minimum stuff required. Even in the sixth form, there's a lot more work than taught hours. AS and A2 students, as a rule of thumb, should be working at independent study for as many hours as they're taught.

Someone on a uni course who's being taught for 9 hours a week is very likely classed as full-time.

Dunroamin

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!

No it isn't.

If he's a full time student then he'll get the student funding package of loans and grants and be ineligible to claim CA.

LynV

Dunroamin wrote: »

No it isn't.

If he's a full time student then he'll get the student funding package of loans and grants and be ineligible to claim CA.

He is doing a masters which is not funded. We are paying for that.

kingfisherblue

He is still in full time education, though, so cannot receive Carer's Allowance.

fogartyblue.

This sounds to me to be another of those ' let's see how far we can bend the rules' case so that the young lad cops for £58.45 a week.

What was that I hear? " If he doesn't claim the money, nobody else can so it is a wasted £58"

Maybe I can claim for my mum? She gets AA and nobody claims CA for her. Never mind that I can't look after myself never mind someone else. Who is going to check up if we both agree to say that I do spend 35 hours a week looking after her?
If I don't claim it, nobody else will so it is wasted - sighhhhhhh

baza52

fogartyblue. wrote: »

This sounds to me to be another of those ' let's see how far we can bend the rules' case so that the young lad cops for £58.45 a week.

What was that I hear? " If he doesn't claim the money, nobody else can so it is a wasted £58"

Maybe I can claim for my mum? She gets AA and nobody claims CA for her. Never mind that I can't look after myself never mind someone else. Who is going to check up if we both agree to say that I do spend 35 hours a week looking after her?
If I don't claim it, nobody else will so it is wasted - sighhhhhhh

So whats wrong. at least they are trying to do it all above board and not just making a false claim.

Would you advise a pensioner to not claim something if they were entitled?

People on DLA or AA can claim carers for looking after each other so i dont see your point. unless its just sour grapes

Folar

fogartyblue. wrote: »

This sounds to me to be another of those ' let's see how far we can bend the rules' case so that the young lad cops for £58.45 a week.

What was that I hear? " If he doesn't claim the money, nobody else can so it is a wasted £58"

Maybe I can claim for my mum? She gets AA and nobody claims CA for her. Never mind that I can't look after myself never mind someone else. Who is going to check up if we both agree to say that I do spend 35 hours a week looking after her?
If I don't claim it, nobody else will so it is wasted - sighhhhhhh

Its about helping people get their entitlement! Not about benefits policy!

This board is here for help and support for those on or looking to claim benefits, not for judgement.

It’s ONLY focus is helping people with their money.

It's here to help people find out what they are entitled to under the current system, and to help them get it.

Benefits provide a lifeline for many, and this site is here to help people with their money, and not to judge. Of course, how to illegally defraud the benefits system shouldn't be discussed here, but ensuring you're getting your entitlement is exactly what it’s about.

We all know the benefits system is a mess – but that’s for the discussion time.

Whatever you're political persuasion, we're all aware the benefits system is a mess. Whether it’s the malpayments of tax credits, benefit fraud, or simply the fact that sometimes it doesn't pay to work - everyone has their grumble.

Yet to discuss the benefits system itself and issues around it, the appropriate place isn't here but the Discussion time Board and even there, please remember courtesy and not to make it personal about anyone. This site's prime purpose it to help people with their money and I will always act to protect that.

Thanks for your co-operation


Martin

MSE Update: Please also see the Disability and Dosh board

CFC

Folar, nothing in what you've quoted says

'and this board is here to help them claim against the rules or bend the rules'.

Unless you can see writing in invisible ink, that is. If you feel strongly about a post then report it, don't 'mini-mod'.

The OP is distressed that the rules forbid her son from claiming so another poster is at liberty to comment on that.

fogartyblue.

baza52 wrote: »

So whats wrong. at least they are trying to do it all above board and not just making a false claim.

Would you advise a pensioner to not claim something if they were entitled?

People on DLA or AA can claim carers for looking after each other so i dont see your point. unless its just sour grapes

It still doesn't make it right even if they are telling the whole world - what is being suggested is quite possibly benefit fraud at worst or immoral at best.

I have absolutely no objection to anybody, and would in fact encourage people to claim what they are entitled to.

But to try and manoeuvre around the clear rules relating to full time students being able to claim CA is pushing it a bit too far.

When my daughters were both at uni, and yes they too only had to attend a couple of days a week, didn't have the time to go to the hairdresser never mind spend a minimum of 35 hours a week caring for someone. They were carrying out their studies on the days that they weren't at uni + they had assignments to do and a whole raft of research work.

There is a very good reason why students on a full time course (not just taught hours, are not allowed to claim CA, simply because they just don't have the time! To say otherwise is attempting to claim something that they are not entitled too.

Behind the scenes I do believe that they see it as an income for the lad that is going begging just for the asking!

As for your last statement "People on DLA or AA can claim carers for looking after each other"
They can only claim it if they can show that they do in fact provide at least 35 hours of care a week to each other.
I'm not an idiot not to know that that is also wide open to abuse. Nobody actually checks what the caring consists of and that they actually do provide it.
Over the years I have seen ridiculous claims for CA. Looking at both of their disabilities, many could never do what they claim to do, but still carry on claiming it. That to me is clear benefit fraud.