Carers allowance

Finefoot

Is it possible for a carer ( family member) to receive carers allowance for 2 people ( a couple) at the same time? The family member lives with them.

missbiggles1

Simple answer, no.

jetplane

No, a person can only receive carers allowance for one person.

GwylimT

No, I provide fulltime care to two people I live with, it wouldn't enable me to claim twice despite doing twice the work.

FBaby

To be entitled to CA, you are supposed to provide at least 35 hours of care, and that's real care, not making cups of tea and conversation. Even with a level of economy of scale, that would be above the working time regulations.

Mojisola

FBaby wrote: »

To be entitled to CA, you are supposed to provide at least 35 hours of care, and that's real care, not making cups of tea and conversation.

https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/financial-support/help-with-benefits/carers-allowance
The 35 hours can include:
time spent physically helping the person
time you spend ‘keeping an eye’ on the person you look after, eg preventing them coming to harm by walking out of the house
time spent doing practical tasks for them, eg cooking
time taken doing practical tasks, even if you don’t do them in the presence of the person you are looking after, may also count (for instance, if you look after someone who visits you regularly for the care they need, time spent preparing for the visit or cleaning up afterwards should count)

jetplane

Actually making cups of tea and conversation is included when counting towards the 35 hours.

HOWMUCH

FBaby wrote: »

To be entitled to CA, you are supposed to provide at least 35 hours of care, and that's real care, not making cups of tea and conversation. Even with a level of economy of scale, that would be above the working time regulations.

So what do you say to the person you care for when you've done 35 hours? Times up look after yourself, I provide 24/7 care not just 35 hours.

missbiggles1

Mojisola wrote: »

https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/financial-support/help-with-benefits/carers-allowance
The 35 hours can include:
time spent physically helping the person
time you spend ‘keeping an eye’ on the person you look after, eg preventing them coming to harm by walking out of the house
time spent doing practical tasks for them, eg cooking
time taken doing practical tasks, even if you don’t do them in the presence of the person you are looking after, may also count (for instance, if you look after someone who visits you regularly for the care they need, time spent preparing for the visit or cleaning up afterwards should count)

Rightly or wrongly, it's a very broad definition.

Mojisola

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Rightly or wrongly, it's a very broad definition.

If a person needs someone to 'keep an eye on them' - so that they don't go walkabout, don't turn on the gas without lighting it, don't try to lift a hot kettle which they're likely to drop, etc - that care is very important.

It can make the difference between being able to stay at home and go into care which would cost a lot more that CA.

Finefoot

Many thanks to you all.