changing from JSA to carers allowance - help please

sunshinestar101

Hi All,

I was wondering if someone could shed some light on something for me please. ill try to make it short.

Me and my husband are in receipt of joint income based JSA. He signs on every 2 weeks, but i currently dont have to as we have young children.

He is constantly looking for work, but is finding it hard to find something that will fit around the times he cares for his disabled father. - His father is in receipt of the higher rate disability allowance etc. My husband cares for his father most days and nights - so would equate to well over the 35 hours required to claim Carers allowance.

Because of this, we are considering changing to Carers allowance instead of JSA. - but are a bit unsure of how to do this. Would he have to sign off first, then apply for carers allowance or can he still sign on until the carers allowance claim has been accepted? - how does this effect Housing benefit and council tax benefit? - would we have to put in a new claim or will it just continue?

The reason i ask is because if we were to change over - we would really really struggle to be able to cope with living expenses during the 'switchover' so to speak. I mean, if it was just us two - we would manage somehow, but if there is a delay in payments from JSA or Carers Allowance, and Housing benefit - then we would be in deep trouble and dont know how we would manage... im thinkng about our children here and not sure how is the best way to go about things.

does anyone have any experience in this please? any help and info would be brilliant.

Thankyou all so much in advance.

Please help.

jamespir

sunshinestar101 wrote: »

Hi All,

I was wondering if someone could shed some light on something for me please. ill try to make it short.

Me and my husband are in receipt of joint income based JSA. He signs on every 2 weeks, but i currently dont have to as we have young children.

He is constantly looking for work, but is finding it hard to find something that will fit around the times he cares for his disabled father. - His father is in receipt of the higher rate disability allowance etc. My husband cares for his father most days and nights - so would equate to well over the 35 hours required to claim Carers allowance.

Because of this, we are considering changing to Carers allowance instead of JSA. - but are a bit unsure of how to do this. Would he have to sign off first, then apply for carers allowance or can he still sign on until the carers allowance claim has been accepted? - how does this effect Housing benefit and council tax benefit? - would we have to put in a new claim or will it just continue?

The reason i ask is because if we were to change over - we would really really struggle to be able to cope with living expenses during the 'switchover' so to speak. I mean, if it was just us two - we would manage somehow, but if there is a delay in payments from JSA or Carers Allowance, and Housing benefit - then we would be in deep trouble and dont know how we would manage... im thinkng about our children here and not sure how is the best way to go about things.

does anyone have any experience in this please? any help and info would be brilliant.

Thankyou all so much in advance.

Please help.

you can get carers allowance as well as the jsa but they work it out the same

A link here explains it all http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/carers'/introduction.asp

sunshinestar101

Thankyou - so if we put in a claim for carers allowance now - online.. will our income based jsa stop automatically? - im worried that if it does, then the housing benefit will stop too.

Basically - can we apply for carers allowance, then once that has been sorted - tell housing benefit people then?

dont want all our money to be stopped whilst its getting processed, as im sure it would take a few weeks to process.. so we would be stuck without any income of jsa, carers allowace, housing benefit, child tax credits... etc........

i want to be honest with people and tell them of circumstance changes - but is there a 'best order' to tell them so to speak, so we arent left stuck with no income at all?

creditcardhelp11

If your spouse is caring for someone who is receiving dla care at the middle or higher rate or either rate aa for 35hrs per week, not in full time education or not earning £100 or more pr week then he could claim ca. However, if the person being cared for is claiming a means tested benefit with a severe disability premium this would be lost if someone is paid ca. If you are claiming jsa-ib then when you claim ca and are granted you would receive a carers premium around an extra £30 ontop of what you currently get. You would also have the option of claiming income support as a carer well your spouse does. This could be done with or without being paid ca you would not have to be actively seeking employment with an income support claim, however, you would have to attend some wfi but that shouldn't be an issue. Although, I would recommend that your spouse got a social services assessment of his father to see how many hours care per week he needs. Providing he does not live with his Father he may be able to get paid through the direct payments legislation or both of you could if you would help with the care. This could equate to substantially more than the benefits depending on the level of care.