Carers Allowance?

moonman1266

I am disabled and for the past 7 years, I have been cared for by a neighbour for approx 6 hours spread throughout the day. The neighbour claims Carers Allowance for looking after me and I generally slip her a few extra pounds. However (and sadly for me), my neighbour is shortly to move out of the area.



A lady from Social Services came to see me to discuss what will happen when my neighbour moves. It seems that I can either have care provided by a Social Services contractor (but not as many hours as my neighbour currently cares for me) or I can get a Direct Payments/Personal Budget type arrangement and employ a carer myself again at reduced hours in comparison to the care I currently get. However I would have to pay quite a substantial sum (for me) per week for either of these options. (I hope this sounds right as I found it all a bit confusing to be honest).


Could the carers allowance my neighbour currently claims be claimed by a carer provided by Social Services or a carer employed on Direct Payments in order to offset some of the cost to me? I understand I am not allowed to claim it to pay for my care.



The Social Services lady said I should put in a claim for Disability Living Allowance to help pay for the care and give me something towards mobility but having read through the criteria I don’t think I would be entitled to it.


Thank you

Torry_Quine

I don't see how your neighbour was getting carer's allowance for caring for you if you aren't getting middle or higher rate care component of DLA?

Anubis_2

moonman1266 wrote: »

I am disabled and for the past 7 years, I have been cared for by a neighbour for approx 6 hours spread throughout the day. The neighbour claims Carers Allowance for looking after me and I generally slip her a few extra pounds. However (and sadly for me), my neighbour is shortly to move out of the area.



A lady from Social Services came to see me to discuss what will happen when my neighbour moves. It seems that I can either have care provided by a Social Services contractor (but not as many hours as my neighbour currently cares for me) or I can get a Direct Payments/Personal Budget type arrangement and employ a carer myself again at reduced hours in comparison to the care I currently get. However I would have to pay quite a substantial sum (for me) per week for either of these options. (I hope this sounds right as I found it all a bit confusing to be honest).


Could the carers allowance my neighbour currently claims be claimed by a carer provided by Social Services or a carer employed on Direct Payments in order to offset some of the cost to me? I understand I am not allowed to claim it to pay for my care.



The Social Services lady said I should put in a claim for Disability Living Allowance to help pay for the care and give me something towards mobility but having read through the criteria I don’t think I would be entitled to it.


Thank you

Your neighbour cannot get CA unless you are getting DLA or AA? Are you sure they are claiming CA? If so you would be getting DLA at least middle rate care already, or, if over 65 Attendance Allowance....

moonman1266

My carer does currently get the Carers Allowance.

The Social Services lady thinks I should apply for DLA but I don't think I qualify as I get the intermediate rate allowance with the war pension. I was told a long time ago it means I cannot get the DLA or the Attendance Allowance as I am 62.

I hope that explains it a bit better as these things do get confusing.

Thank you

Anubis_2

moonman1266 wrote: »

My carer does currently get the Carers Allowance.

The Social Services lady thinks I should apply for DLA but I don't think I qualify as I get the intermediate rate allowance with the war pension. I was told a long time ago it means I cannot get the DLA or the Attendance Allowance as I am 62.

I hope that explains it a bit better as these things do get confusing.

Thank you

Then you are on war disablement pension? I am unsure if you can get DLA with that.

moonman1266

Sorry it is the Exceptional Rate that I receive of the Constant Allowance according to the letter.

Yes it is paid with the war disablement pension and the carer gets the carers allowance.

The British Legion told me I needed to contact social services to arrange a new carer, and the Social Services lady came to see me. However the social services said it would cost me over £200 per week for their care or the direct payments for only 15 hours of care. Hence I was asking about the carers allowance.

Thank you.

Constant_Gardener

Direct gov:

[to get CA, the person cared for] should be getting one of the following benefits:

• Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance (at the middle or highest rate for personal care)
• Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension

Constant_Gardener

Perhaps you could find someone else trustworthy locally who could take over the care role from your neighbour? They would need to meet these conditions (but there are more for you to read up on if this looks a possibility).

Again from Direct Gov:
However, 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
• you earn more than £100 a week after certain deductions (like Income Tax) have been made

Anubis_2

moonman1266 wrote: »

Sorry it is the Exceptional Rate that I receive of the Constant Allowance according to the letter.

Yes it is paid with the war disablement pension and the carer gets the carers allowance.

The British Legion told me I needed to contact social services to arrange a new carer, and the Social Services lady came to see me. However the social services said it would cost me over £200 per week for their care or the direct payments for only 15 hours of care. Hence I was asking about the carers allowance.

Thank you.

So it is constant AA then....

I doubt you can claim AA and DLA together. You might be able to relinquish your AA and claim DLA. I would ring the benefits enquiry line to find out.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/DG_10011165

Constant_Gardener

'You might be able to relinquish your AA and claim DLA.' This is complicated so don't rush in - you need some expert advice and a full benefits check as you are at or near the Pension Credit entitlement date.
(Disability) Benefits enquiry line 'The person taking your call will not have your personal papers but will be able to give you general advice' - I think you need something independant, that will look at your individual circumstances in detail and who is more experienced / qualified. RBL do fund caseworkers at some CAB - ask your local RBL contact if they can refer you for a FULL benefits check. If they can't, come back and someone will try and signpost you for help or offer more info. Try the turn2us calculator, but constant AA is not a commonly encountered benefit so I am unsure of the accuracy of results.

Anubis_2

Constant_Gardener wrote: »

'You might be able to relinquish your AA and claim DLA.' This is complicated so don't rush in - you need some expert advice and a full benefits check as you are at or near the Pension Credit entitlement date.
(Disability) Benefits enquiry line 'The person taking your call will not have your personal papers but will be able to give you general advice' - I think you need something independant, that will look at your individual circumstances in detail and who is more experienced / qualified. RBL do fund caseworkers at some CAB - ask your local RBL contact if they can refer you for a FULL benefits check. If they can't, come back and someone will try and signpost you for help or offer more info. Try the turn2us calculator, but constant AA is not a commonly encountered benefit so I am unsure of the accuracy of results.

Yes you are quite right, I was offering as an initial port of call but should have added to seek advice of a welfare rights officer.

Personally I wouldn't advise the OP makes the move to DLA and to let things be (if not broken no need to fix)