Carers and WFI

Sheilabibi

I received a letter a week ago asking me to go for a WFI at the end of march...

I receive carers for my Dad and didnt know i would have to go for interviews.

I have read their nice etc etc but to be honest for the sake of the pittance i get from them i am not putting myself under even more stress.

So i am going to ring them next week and tell them they can cancel my IS...

Can you tell me will i lose my Carers as well ?

allen35

No you won't lose your Carer's Allowance, Income Support is a means tested benefit that tops up your Carer's Allowance to the minimum amount you are expected to live on.

Sheilabibi

Thanks for your reply.

Can i write to them and cancel it ?

We dont have a landline just a mobile...so would prefer to write to them.

allen35

Yes you can write or you can use the mobile friendly number beginning with 0345.

Address it to the dep't at the top of one of your Income Support letters.

You can try ringing 0345 608 8545 that's the number for our local office, sure it's a nationwide number which is similar to ringing a landline.

pmlindyloo

I know this is totally your choice but there is no reason to be stressed about this.

As you are a carer they will not make you to do anything. They may suggest courses that might help you if you wish to improve skills.

Plus, Income Support passports you to many other benefits - housing benefit/council tax support/health care costs etc etc.

If you do cancel your Income Support then make sure you inform any other benefit departments as they are likely to be informed that you have cancelled your IS and stop other benefits unless you tell them.

Sheilabibi

Thanks but i only get carers apart from the IS so would i need to let them know ?

pmlindyloo

Sheilabibi wrote: »

Thanks but i only get carers apart from the IS so would i need to let them know ?

Yes, you would.

When/if you cancel your Income Support claim there will be no way of anyone knowing why you have done this unless you tell them.

People can claim Carer's Allowance and work and earn up to about £100 ish a week so for all they know this may have been why you have cancelled your IS claim.

If you are continuing to claim CA and nothing else has changed you will be entitled to HB and CT support based on a low income but you must let them know.

merlin68

What stress? I had one last year, it was only a friendly little five minute chat. You then have one every 3 years. Seems a bit stupid to loose £40 a week over a five minute chat.

Sheilabibi

Thanks i will do a letter for them at the same time ...

CrazyRed

I've had one of these - just after I started claiming carers/IS for my missus.

Honestly, don't worry yourself about it. As a registered carer, you won't be put through the same thing as a 'normal' jobseeker - it's more an opportunity for the JC to help you look for work if you wish to do any, and a quick check that you're getting all the benefits you are entitled to otherwise this is nothing more than a 'box ticking exercise' for them to say that they've seen you - mine took less than 10 minutes, start to finish.

To cancel your carers and IS over this, which only happens once every three years, to me, seems very short-sighted and has the potential to cause further problems for you going forwards. At this moment of time, you are not EXPECTED to look for work, nor will you be pressured into doing so. Cancelling IS and Carers, I suspect, will lead to the JC then calling you in and treating you as a 'normal' jobseeker and all the stress that involves.

Of course, you won't be a 'normal' jobseeker, because of your circumstances and I then suspect they'll suggest you claim your entitlement again, which of course is Carers and IS......

Mojisola

CrazyRed wrote: »

To cancel your carers and IS over this, which only happens once every three years, to me, seems very short-sighted and has the potential to cause further problems for you going forwards.

I'd second this - please don't give up your IS over what will be a box-ticking exercise by person you see.