Carers allowance, I work, am I entitled?

I_Love_Shoes

Hi,
I work full time but also look after my disabled boyfriend around work hours. He is on DLA (I think, have to check) but he works full time too as he is capable, but has CMT (google it) so he struggles, especially with his feet and getting around etc. He suggested as I spend so much time looking after him I might be able to claim for carers allowance.
At the moment I probably see him 3-4 evenings a week and the whole weekend (60ish hours a week), but I am often up in the middle of the night when he isn't feeling very well and I am spending my own money on getting him things like bandages etc (which I can't really afford, but I hate to see him in pain)
He currently lives with his mum and sister, who also suffer with CMT, so he normally has somebody around to keep an eye on him, but he will be moving into his first house very soon so he will be on his own a lot and will probably need a bit more time from me.
The way I would look at it is that I am spending more money than I would be if he didn't have a disability, so surely I am entitled to something...?
Not too sure how this works, and I am not a money scrounger, but he said I ought to look into it as it would definitely help both of us.
In order to get this, do you have to be a full time carer (so without another job)?
Any advice would be great, thanks

Witch_Hazel

If you earn over £100 per week you wont be entitled to carers allowance.

nannytone_2

as above. also your boyfriend would need to receive either mid or high rate DLA care.
you shouldnt be buying bandages for him, he should be using his DLA for his needs.

Mojisola

I_Love_Shoes wrote: »

I work full time but also look after my disabled boyfriend around work hours. He is on DLA (I think, have to check) but he works full time too as he is capable, but has CMT (google it) so he struggles, especially with his feet and getting around etc. He suggested as I spend so much time looking after him I might be able to claim for carers allowance.

At the moment I probably see him 3-4 evenings a week and the whole weekend (60ish hours a week), but I am often up in the middle of the night when he isn't feeling very well and I am spending my own money on getting him things like bandages etc (which I can't really afford, but I hate to see him in pain)
He currently lives with his mum and sister, who also suffer with CMT, so he normally has somebody around to keep an eye on him, but he will be moving into his first house very soon so he will be on his own a lot and will probably need a bit more time from me.
The way I would look at it is that I am spending more money than I would be if he didn't have a disability, so surely I am entitled to something...?

If he is working full-time and getting DLA, you shouldn't need to spend your money on his medical requirements. What is he doing with his money?

Mojisola

Does he buy things for her? It sounds as if she's buying the bandages because he can't afford them.

I_Love_Shoes

He has just got a motability car so I dont think he actually gets any disability benefit put into his account now, I need to check this with him though.
He has just bought his first house and is trying to make it on his own as much as possible, but it is a lot harder for him to work full time and stay healthy and he doesn't have much spare cash due to the house!

bloolagoon

I_Love_Shoes wrote: »

He has just got a motability car so I dont think he actually gets any disability benefit put into his account now, I need to check this with him though.
He has just bought his first house and is trying to make it on his own as much as possible, but it is a lot harder for him to work full time and stay healthy and he doesn't have much spare cash due to the house!

He needs to ask about whether it is possible to get them on prescription.

bloolagoon

Mojisola wrote: »

Does he buy things for her? It sounds as if she's buying the bandages because he can't afford them.

I don't know but she spends a lot of time at his house, I suspect it's just natural in lieu of bills.

Mojisola

I_Love_Shoes wrote: »

He has just got a motability car so I dont think he actually gets any disability benefit put into his account now, I need to check this with him though.

He has just bought his first house and is trying to make it on his own as much as possible, but it is a lot harder for him to work full time and stay healthy and he doesn't have much spare cash due to the house!

So what would he do if he didn't have a girlfriend who cared for him at night and bought him necessary medical supplies?

When you have a longterm health problem, you have to sort out your life to accommodate your problems. If that means you have to prioritise buying medical supplies and paying for care over getting a mortgage, that's the reality of life.

Morglin

If someone is getting medium or high rate (CARE) component of DLA (mobility component doesn't count) then a carer can apply for CA, if they spend more than 35 hours per week caring, and earn less than approx £100 per week.

Give Carers Allowance Unit a ring. Details are on the net.


Sorry I can't post links, as I can't work out how to do it on an IPad!


Lin

I_Love_Shoes

I earn more than £100 a week, is there no way I will be entitled to get anything?
Just another way the government screws over those of us who want to work and not be scroungers! If I worked part time or was on benefits I would be entitled to this, yet I go out and work all day and then I have the added work of looking after my boyfriend and get no financial help even though I have less free time to myself because of this. I love him to bits but it is stressful sometimes and this would really help us!