Carers Allowance and Community Care Grants

rocketduck

Hi All

I need some help/advice and thought I would see if anyone else has had similar issues and found a solution....

I care for my mum and I spend 4/5 days a week there and I receive Carers Allowance.
I spend nearly a day travelling each way as I live in Sussex and my mum lives in Derbyshire.
I have been receiving and using my carers allowance to pay for my travelling but heard somewhere that I could get a community care grant to help me. When I made enquires I was told that my mum would have to submit a community care cclaim, then after that speaking to another adviser said neither my mum or myself would be entitled to any assistance in travelling expenses..
It is only the carers allowance I receive (no other benefits) - My mum is on DLA, Pension and Pension Credit.

Could anyone with experience/advice point me in the right direction...

Any help would be greatly appreciated - Many Thanks.

benefitbaby

Unfortunately community care grants were abolished in April and prior to that they did not cover the routine travel you describe. This leaves you to either cover the cost of the travel from your CA or Mum putting some petrol in your tank once in a while.

As an aside if you have no other income and your savings/capital is below £16k then you could claim income support to top-up your carers allowance.
See:http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/wales/benefits_w/benefits_help_if_on_a_low_income_ew/help_for_people_on_a_low_income_-_income_support.htm#who_can_get_income_support

rocketduck

I don't have a car anymore could not afford to run it so don't need petrol money - I'm using public transport and that takes 3 train journeys or 2 train journeys and a long four and half hour coach ride :-(
Thank you for your advice.

Poppie68

Op this is roughly a 400 mile round trip an you do this on public transport 4/5 days a week?, and managae to care for your mother a min of 35 hours a week?
Do you work? Maybe be a better idea to look at getting some kind of home help for her from someone that can be on hand at short notice as im sure if she is in need of someone to care for her that warrants a payment of CA this person should be living in a closer proximity to her.

pmlindyloo

OMG, how do you manage this journey so often? I know travelling by train can be a comfortable experience but you must be spending your CA on your train fares.

I don't know your situation but have you looked at possible alternatives? Carers on a regular basis (get an adult assessment from social service)/moving nearer her/her moving nearer you?

I don't know how you do it. I visit my 91 year old mum once a week (hour there and an hour back) and that exhausts me!

rocketduck

I don't do 400 miles every day, I usually travel on Sun and head back on Thur on Fri - just depends on what appt she has, or travel Mon and head back on fri - its all down to cost...
I did have an adult assessment and even with the fall, she misses the at risk category but we could pay for private homehelp but its all done via an agency and the cost is quite high. I've even approached the council regarding assistance with shopping and cleaning and thats again done by a different agency and cost is quite high. Basically the council have no interest as she is not really at risk as I'm running around doing everything.
I take her to all sorts of clubs and have her hair done etc - its hard work trying to keep her active and she is 85 years old but by doing this, it is keeping her mind active and her body too, up to an extent.

pmlindyloo, I have tried to coax her to join me as I could easily build her, a one level building at the rear of my garden, but she says my dad spirit and my brothers spirits are there and she feels safe. I'm not going to force her to move to be near me and you only have one mum.

nannytone_2

ym amazed that your mum lives in derbyshire and doesnt qualify for a care pachage, as derbyhire county council are one of the nest in the country when it comes to care provision for the elderly.
it really is impractical for you to travel those kinds of distance on a weekly basis and as has been suggested, should look into alternatives.
would moving your mum nearer to you or visa versa be possible?