Carers allowance 35 hours per week how rigid!!

Just_caring

Been advised by the job centre to claim CA for mum, how rigid are the rules if you do not do care for 35 hours some weeks, do they want to know what you do day by day?

kingfisherblue

If you do not care for someone for the required 35 hours, you are supposed to inform the CA unit at Preston and your payment for that week will be witheld. They do not ask what you do day by day.

Caring for someone can include sorting out appointments, collecting prescriptions, doing their shopping - you do not have to be with them for 35 hours a week.

red_me

First off does your mum claim middle or high DLA or attendance allowance? and for the rigid rules they don't come and check up on you. I guess you told the job centre off what care your mum needs so if they think you should claim CA go for it, and don't forget put a claim in for IS also if all possible.

Tehya

Hi, when you apply you state that you care for a person for a minimum of 35 hours a week and sign it but as Kingfisher already mentioned nowhere do they ask you to list the activities or care that you do. When they receive your application your caree will be sent a form to sign to confirm that you do indeed care for them for the required time.

If you're not sure you actually deliver care for 35 hours try writing down everything you do include all the extra things you might do but don't consider care i.e. calling your mum to make sure she's OK or taken her meds, time spent on picking up prescriptions, making telephone calls on her behalf (all these things count whether she's actually with you or not). When you've done this list you may well find that you do actually enough to claim CA every week.

princessdon

red_me wrote: »

First off does your mum claim middle or high DLA or attendance allowance? and for the rigid rules they don't come and check up on you. I guess you told the job centre off what care your mum needs so if they think you should claim CA go for it, and don't forget put a claim in for IS also if all possible.

But isn't that lying to get benefits?

Either she is caring 35 hours plus (and therefore entitled) or not.

Just_caring

Thank you Kingfisher I do all the things you mentioned plus others so would def do 35 hours, I thought you had to physically had to be with the person.

Thank you Red_me, I have only claimed JSA contributions based so would I be able to claim IS.

Never claimed benefits before and it very confusing

Just_caring

Princess don - I would never lie to get a benefit, i am late 50,s and I have always worked and paid tax & NI, but with 4 family member in the 85+ age group ensuring they are all ok has over took my own life, I do mums shopping, washing, financial dealings, take her to every medical or other appointments, take her on outings to see family members, accompany her to lunches, coffee mornings, bingo etc, ensure she has correct meds, food is in date etc etc

princessdon

Just_caring wrote: »

Princess don - I would never lie to get a benefit, i am late 50,s and I have always worked and paid tax & NI, but with 4 family member in the 85+ age group ensuring they are all ok has over took my own life, I do mums shopping, washing, financial dealings, take her to every medical or other appointments, take her on outings to see family members, accompany her to lunches, coffee mornings, bingo etc, ensure she has correct meds, food is in date etc etc

I never said YOU would - hence the simple fact is it 35 yes or no.

There was a "suggestion" above that they never check on you. It was that part that I have issues with. To *hint* to someone that if you say yes, they won't actually check to see if this is so.

kingfisherblue

You might also want to contact your local carer's centre. They are a mine of information, and a great support. They can signpost you towards any help you and/or your mum might need, help with forms, and offer training in various activities (falls, dementia, manual handling, first aid, and some leisure courses as well).

Heycock

What comes across so strongly in all these threads is the difference in support services across the UK. It really is a postcode lottery. I can only speak of support services for dementias. I am incredibly lucky where I am because we are so far ahead of most of the country in this neck of the woods. Examples...cooperation between AgeUK, the local psychiatric Trust and SS to provide a dedicated early onset wing in the AgeUK dementia day centre (possibly unique in the UK), a dedicated early onset team within the local NHS set-up, rolled out and now successfully operating personalised funding for clients AND carers, carers cafe's, other support charities at local level, a well developed advocacy service and support from a long established branch of the AD society.
I don't list these to brag or rub anyone's nose in it but to illustrate wjhat SHOULD be the gold standard everywhere for all carers for every condition. And I know half of these services just aren't available. They should be. Carers are this country's most taken for granted and abused asset. As i said in an earlier post, it's slowly getting better but not quickly enough.

McKneff

No offence or anything to you OP but dont you think the system is open to massive abuse if it is not checked up on.

35 hours a week is an awful lot of time.