Am I better off coming off Income Support?

welshcakes

Hello peeps

Here's a question for benefit boffs!

At the present my partner is on IS and higher rate DLA (severley disabled).

I gave up work and have been his carer for over a year and since that time only claimed basic IS plus CTC.

I have just received notice that my recent application for Carer's Allowance has been accepted.

I understand that my Carer's Allowance will be reduced by the exact amount I receive in Income Support effectively cancelling out Icome Support. I also understand however that as I will receive approx £26 in a Carer's Premium, it still makes Carer's Allowance worth while.

The dilemma is;

I may shortly successfully get an Attatchment of Earning for child maintenance from ex. Now, whilst I am on Income Support, I will only get to keep £10 of the £50 a week child support.

Would it not be better for me to come off Income Support and forfeit the Carer's Premium in favour of receiving the whole amount of Carer's Allowance (£46pw) plus the entire amount of child support (£50 pw).

On Income support I will get £46 (CA - IS) + £26 Premium + £10 child support = £82

Off Income Support I will get £46 (CA) + £50 child support = £96

Have I misunderstood the calculations and/or there something I am missing here?

Time for coffee before the postman drops another bundle of worries on doormat!

Hapless_2

Housing benefit, council tax benefit, prescriptions coming off income support may lose you the entitlement to those.

welshcakes

Hi hapless

My oartner was already on IS and still is and I was just added to his claim. He is the one in who's name IS is given, and the same for CT and HB. He will remain on Income Support and I in effect will simply be less of a drain by receiving zero benefits and zero income apart from CSA, CTC and Carer's Allowance. The Carer's Allowance in the only 'taxable' benefit but would still not come anywhere near enough to reduce HB or CT benefit.

Are you saying that I have to claim IS as oppose to claiming nothing? That seems crazy (but the system is crazy I know) as it makes no ££ difference, just adds me as a statistic. I'm in Wales so prescriptions are free any way.

Hapless_2

I believe (from what I have been told in the past) that even if you are not claimed for they will want to know what money you have coming in. I believe the IS forms have a section that says details of your partner (anyone you are married to or living with as if you were married if you have one). So I think they have to be told, unless things have changed.