Backdated Carer Allowance?

Jules1921

I have just realised that I could have been claiming carers allowance since 1999. My son has cerebral palsy and I left work to look after him. He gets DLA. I got invalid care allowance whch I thought was part of the DLA. I was a single parent until he was 8. Because his step dad was at home I went to college and was told I had to give up ICA because it was higher education. When I finished college I thought the care component of the DLA meant I couldn't claim ICA. I have never worked full time and my marriage broke down in 2000. I have been self employed working from home so I can look after my son. Because of the changes due to happen with PIP coming soon I was searching the internet to see what it involves and saw that there is a carers allowance that I could have been claiming because my son gets middle care rate of the care component. I have realised that I should have been claiming it. Do I go to the financial ombudsman to see if I can get it back dated. I have struggled with debt and finances all my life and didn't know about this benefit that would have helped. Anyone out there with any helpful information?

pmlindyloo

Carer's Allowance can only be backdated for 3 months.

http://www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/caring_for_someone/carers_allowance.aspx#back

**Patty**

ICA was renamed Carer's Allowance in i think 2003.

sleepless_saver

If you were making more than the earnings limit for carers allowance - currently £100 a week net and after self employment expenses - then you wouldn't have been entitled to it. https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility .

No point contacting the ombudsman in any case, they don't deal with benefits.

helentay_2

Jules1921 wrote: »

I have just realised that I could have been claiming carers allowance since 1999. My son has cerebral palsy and I left work to look after him. He gets DLA. I got invalid care allowance whch I thought was part of the DLA. I was a single parent until he was 8. Because his step dad was at home I went to college and was told I had to give up ICA because it was higher education. When I finished college I thought the care component of the DLA meant I couldn't claim ICA. I have never worked full time and my marriage broke down in 2000. I have been self employed working from home so I can look after my son. Because of the changes due to happen with PIP coming soon I was searching the internet to see what it involves and saw that there is a carers allowance that I could have been claiming because my son gets middle care rate of the care component. I have realised that I should have been claiming it. Do I go to the financial ombudsman to see if I can get it back dated. I have struggled with debt and finances all my life and didn't know about this benefit that would have helped. Anyone out there with any helpful information?

Unfortunately you are one of many that fails to claim their full entitlement to benefits. Carers Allowance along with pension Credit for thosewho are 60+ are the two most unclaimed benefits. The government rake in £billions because of people's failures.

These two benefits tend to affect the most deprived and vulnerable groups, yet the DWP will do very little if anything to make you aware of being able to claim them.
No you can only go back 3 months at best.

Some on here will say 'well you have managed without it so far, so what are you complaining about' Be aware!!

Witch_Hazel

Jules1921 wrote: »

I have just realised that I could have been claiming carers allowance since 1999. My son has cerebral palsy and I left work to look after him. He gets DLA. I got invalid care allowance whch I thought was part of the DLA. I was a single parent until he was 8. Because his step dad was at home I went to college and was told I had to give up ICA because it was higher education. When I finished college I thought the care component of the DLA meant I couldn't claim ICA. I have never worked full time and my marriage broke down in 2000. I have been self employed working from home so I can look after my son. Because of the changes due to happen with PIP coming soon I was searching the internet to see what it involves and saw that there is a carers allowance that I could have been claiming because my son gets middle care rate of the care component. I have realised that I should have been claiming it. Do I go to the financial ombudsman to see if I can get it back dated. I have struggled with debt and finances all my life and didn't know about this benefit that would have helped. Anyone out there with any helpful information?

To be honest you haven't got any hope whatsoever of trying to claim for backdated CA as far back as you are hoping to go. You need to concentrate on your benefit entitlement now and at most the last 3 months. Are you getting a disability premium within your child tax credits? You can apply for CA as long as you don't earn more than £100 per week. Possibly not what you want to hear, but when in doubt always seek advice from the CAB.

helentay_2

Witch_Hazel wrote: »

To be honest you haven't got any hope whatsoever of trying to claim for backdated CA as far back as you are hoping to go. You need to concentrate on your benefit entitlement now and at most the last 3 months. Are you getting a disability premium within your child tax credits? You can apply for CA as long as you don't earn more than £100 per week. Possibly not what you want to hear, but when in doubt always seek advice from the CAB.

That's if you can find one open, can find one that isn't full up, and one that has a half decent advisor.

This is the problem. Always the question - should it be the claimant to be proactive and ask " is there anything I can claim for" on a regular basis or should it not be for the DWP to make sure that through regular letters people are kept informed on what they can claim for?
In this case as there had previously been a claim for ICA which ceased due to student status, and the DLA award continued for years after, shouldn't the DWP include a note with the annual uplifting letter stating that 'Don't forget someone could be entitled to CA with this level of award.'

It's very difficult if someone thinks that they aren't entitled to also think that they might be.

You only have to look at the £millions that go unclaimed every year - the DWP should be ashamed of themselves for not being more proactive themselves in trying to get these people to put claims in. If they know that money is unclaimed, they must know who hasn't claimed it!