Carers allowance

Gallstones

we receive DLA for our son aged 8. He gets lower mobility and middle care rate. We have had this since 2010.

We have heard we can apply for carers allowance but we are in receipt of benefits (HB and at present ESA). How would the carers allowance affect the other benefits?

Anubis_2

It is deducted so you will only have an underlying entitlement, due to overlapping benefits, however you will receive the carers premium (an additional premium) of £31 (unless this is a different amount for a child, not sure) and you will also get your class one National Insurance contributions paid.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/MoneyMatters/CarersAllowance/index.htm

Gallstones

Anubis wrote: »

It is deducted so you will only have an underlying entitlement, due to overlapping benefits, however you will receive the carers premium (an additional premium) of £31 (unless this is a different amount for a child, not sure) and you will also get your class one National Insurance contributions paid.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/MoneyMatters/CarersAllowance/index.htm

thanks Anubis - is it worth bothering to apply if its deducted from benefits - all that paperwork? is it an automatic approval with CA or is it means tested? would the £31 a week be an additional amount I would get on top of what I get now?

rogerblack

Gallstones wrote: »

thanks Anubis - is it worth bothering to apply if its deducted from benefits - all that paperwork? is it an automatic approval with CA or is it means tested? would the £31 a week be an additional amount I would get on top of what I get now?

Yes.
You only get the 31 if you are claiming CA, but it isn't paid, so claim CA.

sleepless_saver

Gallstones wrote: »

thanks Anubis - is it worth bothering to apply if its deducted from benefits - all that paperwork? is it an automatic approval with CA or is it means tested?

Compared to filling in the DLA form, the carers allowance form is a doddle so don't let the paperwork put you off.

speedyturtle

My son is also receiving DLA and receiving lower mobility and middle care rate and my wife was claiming income support and i was telling my wife that we can apply for carers allowance and her reply was that if we apply for carers than they would cut the other benefits but in the end i applied for carers allowance and even though they cut our income support we are still better off around £30 a week(havent got the full figures in front of me) better off.

anguk

rogerblack wrote: »

Yes.
You only get the 31 if you are claiming CA, but it isn't paid, so claim CA.

My husband gets Incapacity Benefit topped up with Income Support and I get Carers Allowance paid to me, they take the amount of Carers Allowance I receive (£55.55) off my husbands money but then give him a £31 premium. It says on his award letters "Because your partner is caring for someone or was caring for someone until recently".

You should claim for the Carers Allowance, you'll be £31 a week better off. You can claim Carers Allowance online, it's very quick and simple compared to most DWP applications, I'm sure it only took me a couple of minutes.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Caringforsomeone/DG_10012547

Anubis_2

Gallstones wrote: »

thanks Anubis - is it worth bothering to apply if its deducted from benefits - all that paperwork? is it an automatic approval with CA or is it means tested? would the £31 a week be an additional amount I would get on top of what I get now?

Yes, it is definitely worth it and yes, you will be £31 per week better off plus your class one contribs.