We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
The Forum now has a brand new text editor, adding a bunch of handy features to use when creating posts. Read more in our how-to guide

Carer question..

Everyone seems so knowledgable on here, so would appreciate help...

Worked enough hours (24+) to claim WTC and received CTC. At same time was caring for elderly (disabled) relative (not claiming).

Because of long hours, ended up giving up work (recently) to care for relative (health deteriorated) full time (receiving carer's allowance now)...but in same time scale, CTC has stopped (and CB) - child starting apprenticeship (and of course WTC has ceased). What are my options?... can't survive on £220-ish per month.

thankyou

Comments

  • nannytone_2
    nannytone_2 Posts: 13,012 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    income suppot for you. nothing for your child.
    housing benefit and council tax benefit
  • thankyou for your post nanny. I've not claimed income support, is it means tested?
  • Guest100 wrote: »
    thankyou for your post nanny. I've not claimed income support, is it means tested?

    Yes it is means tested. Good luck
    ]Mortgage 1. At start £46,000, may 1996 jan 11 £27363.58 :mad: Dec 11 £25,289.00 December 12 £21,882.68
    june 2013, £[STRIKE]18,948 18,182[/STRIKE][/ September 13. Funds available to clear the darn thing! Yay! :j
  • nannytone_2
    nannytone_2 Posts: 13,012 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    yes, but if youre only income is carers allowance, thats the benefit you should be claiming.

    if you have savings of more than 16k you wont be entitled. and savings over 6k would affect the amount.

    as carers allowance is classed as income, you wont get the full income support amount, but you would get a carers premium added.

    adds up to a total income of about £100 ish a week
  • thankyou for taking time to post. very much appreciated
  • Just one other point about IS - if you are living with a partner, their income will be taken into account and you are unlikely to receive IS. If not, you should qualify for IS, which will passport you to HB, council tax benefit, free prescriptions, etc.

    Your child, if still living at home, could also pay you something towards board.
  • thankyou for input kingfisher. i wasn't looking for a passport to claim everything, but good to see what is available (as i said, CA is impossible to live on.(i have been managing on savings recently but that can't continue)
  • Although you may not be looking for a passport to claim everything (and I didn't mean that you was), it is worth knowing that there is additional help, especially for housing costs. As you say, you can't live on CA alone.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 354.3K Banking & Borrowing
  • 254.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 455.4K Spending & Discounts
  • 247.3K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 604K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 178.4K Life & Family
  • 261.5K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.7K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.