Carer's Allowance - need some help please

chokolat2

Hi everyone.

Mum currently gets both components of DLA (high) as she is disabled.
My dad currently looks after her 24 hours a day. We have recently found out that he can claim for Carer's Allowance. This is only around £58 a week.
This is obviously too little money seeing as he cannot work due to caring for mum 24 hours a day. Is there anything else he can claim?

Also how will Carer's Allowance affect benefits such as Housing/Council Tax?

Thank you

nannytone_2

does your mum receive ESA?

they cant just be living on DLA... what other income do they have?

chokolat2

No dad receives ESA. He was refused, but is now receiving the appeal rate.

nannytone_2

is it contributions based or income based?

chokolat2

Its contributions based

Torry_Quine

Carer's allowance and ESA are both wage replacement benefits so you can't get both together. However if he applies for carer's allowance he may get a premium added to his ESA.

nannytone_2

is he claiming for your mum as well?
if so h'ed be getting an income based top up.

the carers allowance will have an impact as it is taxable income.

im not sure what exactly happens when both contributions based and income based benefits are being claimed together.

usually the means tested benefit it reduced by the amount of the carers allowance, and a carers premium is added.

you need to phome DWP to make sure that the correct rates of each benefit are being paid.
or go to entitledto.com and run their figures through the benefit calculator