Sick mother carers allowance?

Chesnut1

I wonder if anyone can help as I am not really up on benefits. Due to major surgery I have been off work for 6 months I was about to return to work this week as I am now recovered and require income as partners wage can not support both of us. Unfortunatly my mother was rushed to hospital last week. She has been released but has to go back on the 2nd July to remove a substantial ovarian cyst.Due to her age the hospital said she will be in for approx 3 days and then will need 3 months care at home. i.e myself, as she lives on her own and cannot/does not drive so I will need to be with her around the clock. This has caused a dilema as I financialy need to go back to work but I am all she has. I know what her needs will be as I am a support worker and know how demanding this can be. Is there any short term carers allowance I/she can recieve to help towards my costs as although I feel mean about this I will become deeply in debt if I do not have some sort of income, She is 61 and receives a small state pension topped up with pension credit. Any advice would be much appreciated. Many thanks.

seven-day-weekend

There is Disability Living Allowance which she may be able to claim, but I think you have to be sick/disabled for at least six months.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/MoneyMatters/DG_10012522

If she is entitled to it, you may be able to claim Carer's Allowance

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone/MoneyMatters/DG_10012522

firesidemaid

yes. i think you can only get carers allowance if the person you are caring for gets dla of a certain type/level - so that would have to be applied for first or ?together.

you are allowed to earn a certain amount alongside carers allowance. e.g it used to be that (few years ago) carers allowance was £50 and you could earn another £70 a week.

make sure you are getting NI credits for your state pension if you do this.

try citizens advice for current rules etc.

i hope you mum makes a good recovery x

Hapless_2

With DLA, the condition has to have existed for 3 months with the likelyhood of carrying on for 6 months.

seven-day-weekend

sazzacat wrote: »

yes. i think you can only get carers allowance if the person you are caring for gets dla of a certain type/level - so that would have to be applied for first or ?together.

you are allowed to earn a certain amount alongside carers allowance. e.g it used to be that (few years ago) carers allowance was £50 and you could earn another £70 a week.

make sure you are getting NI credits for your state pension if you do this.

try citizens advice for current rules etc.

i hope you mum makes a good recovery x

I don't think it's actually credits you get; I think it's Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) which lowers the amount of years you have to pay in to get a full State Pension.

Maybe if the OP and/or her mother are not entitled to any extra benefits it may be better for the OP to go back to work and pay for carers to come in to her mum?

Chesnut1

Thanks to all who replied. Well it looks like I am going to be in a whole load of debt by the time she is up and running. The idea of me paying a carer was a good one but my meagre wage take home is about £125 per week so that is not possible as I need this to live off. I might have to tell the hospital that they will just have to keep her! but I know what the answer will be LOL. To be honest it annoys me as I have always tried to support myself apart from stat sick pay this year for me which I paid for through NI etc. Yet I cannot get any help for my mother. Granted she gets her pension topped up because she only worked p/t for many years but that was due to her own mother being chronically sick for years with no outside help. At this rate we may need to delay her opp as I have some bills to pay first like car repair/ road tax which I will need for her. Unfortunatley her nearest neighbour is about 5 miles away so she cant be on her own and she cant live with me as we have no spare room or sofa. Thanks anyway everyone sometimes life is too complicated.

seven-day-weekend

Could you yourself delay going back to work(if you are still not well) and claim Incapacity Benefit?

Also, this may help:

http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/fs41.asp

Also, speak to a Welfare Rights Officer at the CAB to see if they have any further advice.

seven-day-weekend

http://www.doonhamer.f2s.com/forum/index.php?sid=c00021a1bca7b43801be1fbac6574eac

Or you could try posting your enquiry on the site above (Welfare Rights on the Net) wherre it will be answered by a Welfare Rights Officer who may have more information.

Good luck!