Proof for Carers Allowance

Poppie68

Does anyone know what proof is needed when paying part of carers allowance to a third party?

Carer starting work earning £123 (apprenticeship) has to pay £5 a day to neighbour to go in 5 days a week too cook lunch and change pad...How does she go about proving the payment of £25, is there specific evidence needed and how often do you have to provide it?
Thanks.

Richie-from-the-Boro

In addition to 23 other pages of questions :
- you tick a YES or NO box to say you spend 35 hours or more each week caring
- if in any 35 hour week you spend less than 35 hours a week caring for the person [hospital / holiday] you state the reason
- and you sign as a true record. Form DS700

NOTE : The person you are caring for no longer has to sign their consent, you declare that you have made the person you are caring for aware of the potential consequences to their benefits.

Third party - no idea.

Poppie68

Richie-from-the-Boro wrote: »

In addition to 23 other pages of questions :
- you tick a YES or NO box to say you spend 35 hours or more each week caring
- if in any 35 hour week you spend less than 35 hours a week caring for the person [hospital / holiday] you state the reason
- and you sign as a true record. Form DS700

NOTE : The person you are caring for no longer has to sign their consent, you declare that you have made the person you are caring for aware of the potential consequences to their benefits.

Third party - no idea.

They wouldn't even consider still claiming it if they didn't still provide 35 hours of care. They live together so will still be doing more than enough to satisfy the rules...

Diary

A simple letter from the neighbour and the carer themselves is normally all that's needed.

Oddly for the DWP I've always found the carers unit friendly and helpful but just in case send it recorded and keep a copy.

Poppie68

Diary wrote: »

A simple letter from the neighbour and the carer themselves is normally all that's needed.

Oddly for the DWP I've always found the carers unit friendly and helpful but just in case send it recorded and keep a copy.

Thanks Diary your help is most appreciated...

Mojisola

Diary wrote: »

A simple letter from the neighbour and the carer themselves is normally all that's needed.

It wouldn't do any harm to buy a small duplicate carbon invoice book and give an official receipt each week, signed by both parties.

Poppie68

Mojisola wrote: »

It wouldn't do any harm to buy a small duplicate carbon invoice book and give an official receipt each week, signed by both parties.

I was just thinking the same thing, the carer does keep a diary so is going to also get the neighbour to update each visit and sign.

LocoLoco

I'd second the duplicate book idea; I had a little cleaning job for a while, £10 a week so it didn't affect my benefits but they did need proof, I just wrote up what I'd done each week, how much I'd been paid and the person I was cleaning for signed it to say they'd paid and then I sent the information off once a month (I would say to send recorded delivery though so you can check it got there). Specifically for Carer's Allowance, there are various allowable expenses and I found the Carer's UK helpline team (contact via email as it's difficult to get through on the phone) very helpful in that regard so it might be worth mentioning that to your friend in case they want to double check things.