Carers Allowance v State Pension

jlawrence

p00hsticks wrote: »

Carers Allowance is claimed by the people doing the caring, not by those being cared for.... If your carers are eligible for Carers allowance then it may affect any other benefits they are claiming alongside it.

Thanks Poo, so the agency should be claiming it then? So who pays us to cover the caring costs?

jlawrence

pmlindyloo wrote: »

As already said Carer's Allowance is paid to the person that is doing the caring.

The person also has to meet certain criteria.

See here:

http://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/financial-support/help-with-benefits/carers-allowance

It sounds as if you have carers that are already employed (perhaps by an agency?) that you are paying privately for their caring for you.

Since a carer has to be giving you care for 35 hours a week then it is very unlikely that they would qualify for carer's allowance.

You may be eligible for some help with the cost of carers but you would need an assessment from Adult Social Services.

Thanks Lindy, yes we are paying an agency for the carers for both of us. 35 hours a week? 5 hours a day? Yes we both get that over 4 visits a day. Social Services? They will probably want to do a means test on us like the ESA did. Can't see them being anymore helpful than the DWP were.

irishjohn

jlawrence - you could both claim attendance allowance to pay for personal care needs. This could be used to part pay the agency

jlawrence

irishjohn wrote: »

jlawrence - you could both claim attendance allowance to pay for personal care needs. This could be used to part pay the agency

Thanks Irish, we aren't old enough to do that. We are in our mid 50's. We could claim PIP but given the bad press about it, the long wait, as well as the poor decision making, we don't want to put ourselves through that turmoil. We'll look at it again in 2020 when we find out what we will be doing. In the meantime we are using the mortgage security money to live off and pay our bills as many on here have told me that it is the right thing to do.

pmlindyloo

jlawrence wrote: »

Thanks Irish, we aren't old enough to do that. We are in our mid 50's. We could claim PIP but given the bad press about it, the long wait, as well as the poor decision making, we don't want to put ourselves through that turmoil. We'll look at it again in 2020 when we find out what we will be doing. In the meantime we are using the mortgage security money to live off and pay our bills as many on here have told me that it is the right thing to do.

You have misunderstood about the Carer's Allowance.

It is paid to one person who provides 35 hours a week care to you or your wife.

But they have to meet other criteria (look at the link I gave you) and the person they are caring for has to be receiving Attendance Allowance or PIP.

From what you are saying no one can claim Carer's Allowance for you or your wife because you are not receiving either Attendance Allowance or PIP.

In any case this money is not paid to you so you are not financially better off.

I am concerned that you are not receiving all the help you are entitled to.

The problem is with this forum (and I mean no disrespect to the users) is that there are people who are well versed in benefits advice (they may be CAB advisors or work within the benefit system), there are people who have personal experiences, and there are people who just give their own personal viewpoint without any real knowledge of the system.

Of course if you are not a regular poster and have little knowledge of the system then you are not to know who is who (so to speak)

There are several options that you need to explore so my suggestion is to telephone CAB. Look on their website and find the nearest one with a welfare and benefits specialist. Some CAB will come to your home - this is often called Outreach.

You are entitled to any help that you are eligible for.

Please speak to the experts at CAB who will guide you through the options.

You need to explore:

1. Claiming benefits and your current situation as regards the capital to be used to pay off your interest free mortgage.
2. Claiming PIP - CAB can complete the forms and help you with this.
3. Asking for an Adult Social Services assessment to see if you are eligible for help with paying your carers.

I am afraid that you have read posts that are not based on knowledge and they have put you off claiming your entitlements.

cbrown372

Jlawrence is Andy who is purposely misunderstanding whatever anyone posts.

jlawrence

cbrown372 wrote: »

Jlawrence is Andy who is purposely misunderstanding whatever anyone posts.

Hi Brown, who is Andy?

Parva

cbrown372 wrote: »

Jlawrence is Andy who is purposely misunderstanding whatever anyone posts.

I doubt this is Andy but it's certainly a troll given that everything they type is centered on claiming benefits to which they are not entitled and the deliberate misinterpretation of the answers given. Avoid.

EDIT: Having seen other posts elsewhere I am revising my opinion. Yep, it's Andy alright. Such a sad life he lives.

pennyago

jlawrence wrote: »

Hi Brown, who is Andy?

Hi Lawrence, I'm sure you know him very well.

jlawrence

pennyago wrote: »

Hi Lawrence, I'm sure you know him very well.

Hi penny, no, sorry I don't, I don't have a clue what it is all about. Maybe you could enlighten me?