Disability care components & working tax credit

jennybee23

Hello. Newbie here.

I came across this site whilst googling something and I am in hope that someone may be able to advice me.

My husband was involved in a road accident that left him impaired and unable to work.
Previous to his accident we both worked and claimed working family credit & child tax credit.
Since my husband had the accident,we applied for disibility allowance for my husband.
He was awarded high rate mobility & middle rate care component, my husband does need help both day & night & during the night.
I work part time 20 hours so I am able to provide a bit of an income but I do need to be at home more to help my husband.

1) I noticed that middle rate care component & high rate component is awarded to someone who needs help both day & night. Does anyone know the difference between middle rate award & high rate award please?

2) We are currently in receipt of my husbands disibilty allowance, my part time wage & working family tax credit & child tax credit. I read that because I earn under £100 a week I may be entitled to claim carers allowance because I am unable to work full time due to my husband needing my help. If I claimed carers allowance, would it affect the amount of working family tax credit we are awarded?

3)I read that if one of us is in receipt of disibility allowance and claiming working family tax credit, we may be entitled to 'severe disability' element. Is this only for disabled people who have been awarded higher rate care component or does middle rate care component also qualify?

If anyone can help me then I would be very greatfull. I usually go to the CAB when we have problems but our local CAB office has been closed down.
Since my husband had the accident and lost his job, I have been worried sick financially and we are struggling to make ends meet.

shortdog

1. Middle rate care is for those who need help during the night, high rate is for help day and night.
2. Carers Allowance is a taxable benefit, I recieve carers allowance and my partner works, and it doesn't seem to make a difference to our WTC (but check entitledto.com)
3. There are two levels of disability premium in tax credits, one for anyone who recieves middle rate care, and a severe disability premium for those who recieve higher rate care.
HTH

Dullville

Why are you earning below the National Minimum wage???

jennybee23

Thankyou shortdog.
I earn under the national mimimum wage because I clean for someone who can only afford to pay me what she can. I am happy to have a part time job and in all fairness it isn't hard work, it gets me out of the house and it makes me feel good about actually earning something, not alot but something. Life now that I am looking after my husband is not great been indoors, the cleaning job is what keeps me sane.I know I could go get a job which earns me more money but not sure all employers would keep me in a job on days where my husband is too sick for me to work, at least now I can work flexi hours for her and not tied into set hours.

Icequeen99

shortdog wrote: »

1. Middle rate care is for those who need help during the night, high rate is for help day and night.
2. Carers Allowance is a taxable benefit, I recieve carers allowance and my partner works, and it doesn't seem to make a difference to our WTC (but check entitledto.com)
3. There are two levels of disability premium in tax credits, one for anyone who recieves middle rate care, and a severe disability premium for those who recieve higher rate care.
HTH

Agree with 1 & 2 but 3 is a bit misleading. There are two levels of disability premium in tax credits but one is only for disabled workers (not your husband because he isn't the worker) the other would apply to you (severe disability premium) only if your husband received the highest rate of care.

Are you registered as self-employed?

IQ

mealone

shortdog wrote: »

1. Middle rate care is for those who need help during the night, high rate is for help day and night.
2. Carers Allowance is a taxable benefit, I recieve carers allowance and my partner works, and it doesn't seem to make a difference to our WTC (but check entitledto.com)
3. There are two levels of disability premium in tax credits, one for anyone who recieves middle rate care, and a severe disability premium for those who recieve higher rate care.
HTH

Icequeen99 wrote: »

Agree with 1 & 2 but 3 is a bit misleading. There are two levels of disability premium in tax credits but one is only for disabled workers (not your husband because he isn't the worker) the other would apply to you (severe disability premium) only if your husband received the highest rate of care.

Are you registered as self-employed?

IQ

You are both wrong in 1 as middle rate care is for needing care during the day OR night and not just nigh time only.

Dullville

Cheating the system by being paid cash in hand..and wants more money from the Govt. Shock.