Impossible Carer's Allowance & Benefits Situation

Another_Username_4

Because our outgoings are more than our incomings. Simple! The CAB helped us with this, confirming our own calculations. They agreed.

yes there are debts but they are managed. They are relatively small and I am paying £1 per month thanks to the CAB.

How can others survive and we can't? Why are some people tall and some people short? Situations are different - and our lifestyle is far from luxurious.

Even the benefits agency have advised that we live apart.

Further financial problems? I actually expect these, because of the Law of Downward Spirals.

If any more proof were needed of the situation we are in, just read the threads of other people who are having far more difficulties than us.

We are trying to do things the right way and we can't.

Next.

princessdon wrote: »

So how do couples (with £111 pw) JSA survive?

You get at least double (and probably more) than that as a couple? A family earning minimum £26K and a child live on less after mortgage, council tax etc.

Why can't you survive and others can?

Is it debts or do you have a high level of luxury things you pay for?

I fail to see how you can't live on the amounts the calculators say you'd get. Is it because you are not being given the full amount the calculators say or because you are used to higher payments?

PS If you "stay over" at your GF house occasionally you run the risk of being classed as living together (especially as you have no fixed abode) and if this ever happened and you had back payments you could find yourself if further problems financially.

princessdon

Oh well - You will have to hope they don't check on your living arragements. If your debts are registered for EG at your GF house it will go against you if they ever decide to question if you are really still a couple.

Of course if everything is completely separate and you don't stay over etc this will never be a problem. I am sure the CAB etc did advise you on that anyway.

fishybusiness

I don't get it. So many people can manage and you can't????

How's about you post the financial figures that you live to now, and the same if you were living together.

we are engaged and plan to get married.

The way you are talking it will never happen. I really don't get it!

Another_Username_4

We are aware of the situation regarding the staying over at which place, etc. and have been given advice on this.

We have been told that there are no hard and fast rules, given our own situation. The lady I spoke to on the helpline number I was given earlier in this thread explained that our circumstances ARE different. While the same general rules and guidelines apply, because my partner needs, yes NEEDS full-time care because of her epilepsy condition, I should be spending all my time with her. Of course the benefits people will probably say that this is not allowed. The lady on the phone line said it WOULD be allowed under these circumstances. Personally I am not sure about this so we are, once again, visiting the CAB this afternoon to check this out.

OK, many of you will say that this is fiddling or playing the system, but if it is legal and this is our entitlement then so be it. We are NOT deliberately trying to play the system. If it is legal then we are doing nothing wrong.

I will report back after we have visited the CAB. It is quite possible that some of the latest information we have acquired could still be incorrect. Hopefully we will have a clearer picture.

System

However you have stated that your partner needs constant care which by implication means that you spend the majority of your time there I>E You are living together.

This is reinforced with your comment about your house/home

As it is I don't have one and stay with friends some of the time.

BigAunty

Download the budget planner on the website and do a 'before' moving in and 'after' moving in scenario.

Couples who face a steep benefit withdrawal from moving in together sometimes don't appreciate how much cheaper it is to run one household rather than two - the savings that come with only having to pay one lot of gas, electricity, water, insurance bills, cheaper grocery bills, sometimes a saving from not having to travel between properties and so on.

princessdon

Aunty - I have a feeling it is living together but lost ib and is (now jsa) so we will now live separate (but not) so we can make up some of the difference. That's how I read it anyway, because they are still tied as a couple, he's still staying over and giving constant care etc, so that is why the single v none budget won't be applicable.

evenasus

princessdon wrote: »

They are not trying to play the system - they just want to get the most benefits they can possibly get between the two of them without working.

Sadly, so do many other people.

System

evenasus wrote: »

Originally Posted by princessdon
They are not trying to play the system - they just want to get the most benefits they can possibly get between the two of them without working

Sadly, so do many other people.

Isn't that still playing the system?

Another_Username_4

Oh Princessdon and your followers. How wrong you are.

I could be writing the following with a big smile on my face in a "told you so" manner, but I am a little more mature than that.

This is probably going to be the last post I will make on this forum before unsubscribing, however, I may make an additional comment or two after this but, sadly, the less-helpful and highly critical among you far outnumber those who have been helpful and willing to actually listen.

I politely ask you to read the following carefully as I am not explaining this twice.

This afternoon we visited the Citizen's Advice Bureau and explained our situation. We were lucky to receive an immediate referral to one of their specialists who understand the Carer's and benefits system. They listened to our story and, at first, refused to believe what we were explaining to them. Yes, this is a specialist! They made three telephone calls to Job Centre Plus and the DWP who confirmed the following:

That if I claim Carer's Allowance for anybody, or if they claim and pay me, or anybody else, to be a Carer, that their own money is immediately reduced by £172 - more than half the ESA I mentioned above. It would make no difference whether the carer was a partner, a friend or somebody provided by Social Services, somebody in this situation would still have this amount of money deducted from their benefit. Furthermore, if I become the carer, they would also lose ALL their own benefits. All for the privilege of receiving Carer's Allowance which, as you know, is much less money.

The gentleman who dealt with us has offered to take this further, to our MP and any other outlets necessary in order to get something done about this completely unfair system.

If either of us were struggling with bills beforehand, we would certainly be committing financial suicide if we did things by the book. What a great system! Well done!

What about people who have more serious needs and are forced to abandon all attempts to get a carer?

Please somebody tell me how this is fair?