Carers Allowance

Lisa5295

Hi everyone,


I have been out of work for several years due to caring for my disabled child.


I have been in receipt of carers allowance as my child receives the higher rate of DLA.


I have recently started looking at going back into work.


I have been offered a part time job but the salary will take me over the allowable earnings of £102 per week to retain my carers allowance.


By the time I deduct transport costs I will be down to around £85 per week so I will be working 21 hours per week for under £25 more after deductions for travel.


They don't have any positions available for less hours.


I wouldn't trust anyone except close family members and friends to look after my child due to their medical problems. It says on the Carers Allowance website that I can deduct 50% of what I pay someone else to care for the disabled person or for childcare from my weekly salary. If I did this it may take me under £102 and I may still be able to claim Carers Allowance but the problem is it won't allow me to pay close family members.


I do have a friend I would trust to care for my child but they currently receive benefits of their own as they are not working at the moment and I'm worried if I paid them to care for my child this would affect their own benefits.


I really want to get back out there and contribute something and I think this job would be perfect for me but I don't think it's going to be worth it.


Can anyone offer any advice please?


Thanks

pmlindyloo

Lisa5295 wrote: »

Hi everyone,


I have been out of work for several years due to caring for my disabled child.


I have been in receipt of carers allowance as my child receives the higher rate of DLA.


I have recently started looking at going back into work.


I have been offered a part time job but the salary will take me over the allowable earnings of £102 per week to retain my carers allowance.


By the time I deduct transport costs I will be down to around £85 per week so I will be working 21 hours per week for under £25 more after deductions for travel.


They don't have any positions available for less hours.


I wouldn't trust anyone except close family members and friends to look after my child due to their medical problems. It says on the Carers Allowance website that I can deduct 50% of what I pay someone else to care for the disabled person or for childcare from my weekly salary. If I did this it may take me under £102 and I may still be able to claim Carers Allowance but the problem is it won't allow me to pay close family members.


I do have a friend I would trust to care for my child but they currently receive benefits of their own as they are not working at the moment and I'm worried if I paid them to care for my child this would affect their own benefits.


I really want to get back out there and contribute something and I think this job would be perfect for me but I don't think it's going to be worth it.


Can anyone offer any advice please?


Thanks

If you are a lone parent then you may be eligible for working tax credits.

I suggest that you put your details in to the benefit calculator here: https://www.entitledto.co.uk to find out what you are eligible for.

red_me

You could pay some into a private pension that would take you under the amount you need to still get CA.
If you pop over to http://www.carersuk.org/ there is more details about it on its forum, friendly place to be for us carers.