giving up work to become carer

kimfarren

My mum is going to have to come and live with me soon as shes been diagnosed with terminal cancer and is now at the stage where she cant care for herself.

I am not sure where we stand financially or the names of any benefits we may be entitled to (never claimed a benefit before)

I am married with 4 children at home, we own our home and have a joint annual income of around £40,000. If I gave up work we would lose my £5,000 salary.

My mum receives attendance allowance and also owns her own home. Would she have to sell this?

Any advice on where to start would be greatly appreciated.

Valley's_girl

Hi Kim sorry about your mum someone will be along shortly who will be able to advise you.
Take care
ally xx

filigree_2

You can get Carer's Allowance if you look after your mum full-time:

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

I'm afraid I can't answer the other questions.

wolfehouse

sorry to hear about your mum.
If you give up work to take care of her you should claim carers allowance. this would only affect your mums income if she were on income support (which she is not if she has any amount of savings).

you are entitled to an assessment of your needs as a carer separate from your mums needs so you should look up your local carer's associations (they are local and run by different charities in different areas). They will be able to do a benefits check for you. (called income maximization). They can also support you if/when the stress of being a carer gets hard to handle- they run groups as well as give individual support. they can arrange for someone to be with your mum while you attend. they can also provide you with moving and handling training if you have to use any equipment or assist her with mobility.

You should also ask her gp about a mcmillan nurse and how they can help. There is also money available now to help cancer sufferers who are out of pocket from traveling to and from hospital often. (the carers !!!. and mcmillan nurse should know about this)

If you have extra help in (e.g. direct care and services) to provide personal care in addition to what you do, she may have to pay the agreed hourly rate although if she is a pensioner some of this is free in scotland.

I can see no reason she should have to sell her home unless she is going into a nursing home and needs to pay for her care there and i assume this is not the case as you say she is moving in with yourself.

take care and please do get in touch with the carers !!!. in your area.

quietheart

Sorry you are in such a grim position.
Well done for being there for your mum when she needs you. You'll have to spread yourself thin with having 4 kids already but you'll have no regrets when you look back.
Keep strong and best of luck with claiming the benefits you deserve.

kimfarren

Thanks all for your kind words.

Mum isnt on any benefits other than her attendance allowance as she was still working full time up until her diagnosis in march this year. She is still receiving sick pay. I think I may also contact the working tax credit people as our income has dropped maybe we will entitiled to more tax credits to help make up the shortfall of losing my wage.

thanks again
Kim

Morglin

Claim Carer's Allowance, and try this to see what else you may be entitled to:

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Lin

muggles10559

Hi am so sorry about your mum, was wondering if anyone could help with a few questions i have about a similar situation. My son in law is having to give up work to care for my daughter who has severe depression and also the children Would they be eligible for any benefits at all, the worry of this is making my daughter even worse and i'm so worried for them. Any help would be so much appreciated

Thankyou in anticipation, Muggles xx

karenx

If your daughter is getting any qualifying benefits ie DLA then yes he can claim carers allowance if earning under £100 a week.
What benefits for children? Under 18s cant claim any benefits. But the parents will still be able to get child benefit and child tax credits

muggles10559

no , unfortunately she isn't claiming anything at the moment so they would have no money coming in at all, apart from the carers allowance she gets at the mo for her son, which obviosuly she would have to give up if her husband was claiming for her! Does this mean there is absolutely nothing they can get, therefore being in a much much worse situation as no way can my daughter be left on her own if he was to continue work, i am not able to look after her and the children as i am unwell myself, oh god what on earth will they be able to do, i am worried sick right now !!

Oldernotwiser

muggles10559 wrote: »

no , unfortunately she isn't claiming anything at the moment so they would have no money coming in at all, apart from the carers allowance she gets at the mo for her son, which obviosuly she would have to give up if her husband was claiming for her! Does this mean there is absolutely nothing they can get, therefore being in a much much worse situation as no way can my daughter be left on her own if he was to continue work, i am not able to look after her and the children as i am unwell myself, oh god what on earth will they be able to do, i am worried sick right now !!

She must be claiming DLA for her son if she gets Carers for him. What about child benefit and child tax credit?

Rather surprisingly, she'll be able to carry on claiming Carers, even if she herself gets DLA and her husband gets Carers for her. (Funny old world!)