Allowances??

booboobirdy

Hi

My Mum died last month and was my main carer - we didnt claim anything for her. I need help with personal needs and general household tasks. My auntie comes over for a few hours each day to look after me but she lives 15 miles away and to be honest can't hardly afford the petrol as she is on her pension ( State and a private NHS pension) My auntie was a nurse and can look after me no problem but what I need to know can she clain carers allowance for me - just to cover the petrol? Her stste pension is apx £90 weekly and her private pension is apx £120 weekly but she has has to pay her rent ect and she has hardly anything left. I am on long term Incapacity Benefit and both DLA.

Could someone please advise, it would be much appreciated.


Sara

Mojisola

booboobirdy wrote: »

My Mum died last month and was my main carer - we didnt claim anything for her. I need help with personal needs and general household tasks. My auntie comes over for a few hours each day to look after me but she lives 15 miles away and to be honest can't hardly afford the petrol as she is on her pension ( State and a private NHS pension) My auntie was a nurse and can look after me no problem but what I need to know can she clain carers allowance for me - just to cover the petrol? Her stste pension is apx £90 weekly and her private pension is apx £120 weekly but she has has to pay her rent ect and she has hardly anything left. I am on long term Incapacity Benefit and both DLA.

No, her income is too high to claim CA. Is there anyone who lives locally who could become your carer?

Edit - see kazzah60's post below.

booboobirdy

Not that I would feel comfortable doing my personal needs - I have just read about a 'Underlying entitlement' Have you any idea if this would work pls?

Mojisola

booboobirdy wrote: »

Not that I would feel comfortable doing my personal needs - I have just read about a 'Underlying entitlement' Have you any idea if this would work pls?

If someone is only getting a basic pension then they can get an "underlying entitlement to CA" which isn't the full amount but is a bit extra.

Have you had a needs assessment by your Social Worker recently? Maybe it's time to get professional carers in.

McKneff

Could Auntie use her bus pass, no need for petrol costs then.

krisskross

You can't have SRP and carers Allowance. Underlying entitlement only appears to be of use for someone getting pension credit.

sleepless_saver

Mojisola wrote: »

No, her income is too high to claim CA. Is there anyone who lives locally who could become your carer?

She could still get some additional benefits through claiming carers allowance, assuming she meets the other criteria e.g. caring for 35 hours or more etc.

If her income is £90 state pension and £120 occupational pension, and she has an underlying entitlement to carers allowance then on my calculations she would become entitled to about £5 a week in savings pension credit, and - assuming she lives alone - may get some council tax benefit/housing benefit too. http://www.turn2us.entitledto.co.uk

(The NHS occupational pension does not count as earnings for carers allowance purposes.)

richard9991

booboobirdy wrote: »

Not that I would feel comfortable doing my personal needs - I have just read about a 'Underlying entitlement' Have you any idea if this would work pls?

The ops Aunty also has a private nhs pension

sleepless_saver

krisskross wrote: »

You can't have SRP and carers Allowance. Underlying entitlement only appears to be of use for someone getting pension credit.

Or someone whose carer premium, as a result of getting underlying entitlement to carers allowance, pushes them into eligibility for pension credit.

kazzah60

occupational pensions are NOT counted as income for the purposes of Carers Allowance- the easy way to find out is to make the claim!

nannytone_2

comyact your ;ocal social services and ask for an adult assessment.you may qualify for direct payments, that would enable you to employ the person of your choice, to give you the help that you need