advice on carers/IS/HB please

skater_kat

Hello,

I'm trying to understand what is best course of action for myself and my partner. any advice appreciated please. basically i am not sure whether she should claim carers allowance or not, and/or whether we could qualify for HB/CT.

background
I get DLA middle rate care and low rate mobility. My partner provides more than 35 hours per week care to me.
I work part time from home and bring in on average 200 per week.
My partner does not work because she is my carer (and also has her own health issues) but she does not claim any benefits.

we rent a social housing place for £60 per week rent. (-14% for bedroom tax as we have two bedrooms)

I am trying to figure out our entitlement to any other benefits, for example carers benefit and/or income support, and also if claiming these would then give us entitlement to HB and/or CTB.

i don't think she would qualify for ESA on health grounds. I used to be on ESA support group, but moved onto part time work which has been amazing for my wellbeing, so don't really want to go back to ESA if possible.

I am getting confused trying to calculate it with the correct applicable amounts and premiums and so on so I would be really grateful for some help. I tried using Turn2us but it keeps giving me different answers. thank you in advance.

Darksparkle

How many hours are you working per week?

skater_kat

it varies, sometimes it is 10 sometimes it is 25. don't think we would qualify for tax credits.

Darksparkle

skater_kat wrote: »

it varies, sometimes it is 10 sometimes it is 25. don't think we would qualify for tax credits.

If you could manage 16hrs per week then you'd qualify. On £200 per week income and working 16hrs, tax credits would be about £102 per week.

Or if you did 10hrs one week, 25 the next that averages 17.5 so would allow you to claim as long as that was a regular pattern.

This would go down to about £76 per week if your partner was on carers allowance (which is £62 per week) so overall £138.

skater_kat

if we don't go for WTC, what about just claiming carers allowance and then hb/CTB?

Darksparkle

skater_kat wrote: »

if we don't go for WTC, what about just claiming carers allowance and then hb/CTB?

She can claim carers as long as she meets the criteria.

Can't help with housing sorry.

pmlindyloo

skater_kat wrote: »

if we don't go for WTC, what about just claiming carers allowance and then hb/CTB?

If you don't meet the eligibility requirements for working tax credits then your partner can put in a claim for Income Support with you being added to her claim.

Because of your working, earnings and the carer's allowance then it is probable that you would get a nil award.

You can also put in a claim for HB and CT support based on your low income.

skater_kat

Thank you....I am trying to work that bit out but don't know if i have done it right:

applicable amount for couple: 114.85
carers premium 34.60
disabled premium (we are a couple but only one of us gets DLA so is it the single premium or couple premium?) either 32.25 or 45.95

based on the couple premium (not sure which one)
total applicable amount = 195.40
plus income disregard £20 = £215.40

my dla is disregarded so weekly income of £200 is under the applicable amount. but with claiming the carers allowance puts it at £262, well over the applicable amount, so no award of Income support ,BUT:

for HB/CTB it is the difference between 262 and 215 (£47) divided by 65% i believe, so a possible award of £30.55 before bedroom tax. would be grateful if an HB/CT knowledgeable person could confirm?

also if she does not claim carers allowance would she still retain the underlying entitlement on a nil income?

Housing_Benefit_Officer

skater_kat wrote: »

Thank you....I am trying to work that bit out but don't know if i have done it right:

applicable amount for couple: 114.85
carers premium 34.60
disabled premium (we are a couple but only one of us gets DLA so is it the single premium or couple premium?) either 32.25 or 45.95

based on the couple premium (not sure which one)
total applicable amount = 195.40
plus income disregard £20 = £215.40

my dla is disregarded so weekly income of £200 is under the applicable amount. but with claiming the carers allowance puts it at £262, well over the applicable amount, so no award of Income support ,BUT:

for HB/CTB it is the difference between 262 and 215 (£47) divided by 65% i believe, so a possible award of £30.55 before bedroom tax. would be grateful if an HB/CT knowledgeable person could confirm?

also if she does not claim carers allowance would she still retain the underlying entitlement on a nil income?

Yes your calculations are about right.

To get underlying entitlement to carers allowance (and carers premium) you need to have applied and been refused due to income.

Carers allowance is treated as income but gives a cares premium so additional income is disregarded.