Careers allowance/child tax credit

Almost-free

Hi,

I wonder if anyone knows the definitive answer for this, please?

When my initial tax credit letter arrived I noticed it didn't state carer's allowance on there, so I rang them a couple of weeks ago to say that it had been omitted. The guy I spoke to said my rate would definitely go down and they would adjust the award taking into account both the drop, and the fact my first payment had been too high.

I received the paperwork today and although it now states carer's allowance , the actual rates haven't changed. Which is great if its correct, but I'm suspecting it's a mistake? It's too late to ring now but I will obviously ring on Monday - I would just be grateful if anyone knew the right answer before I ring and make an idiot of myself! I don't want to get into a situation where I am having to repay money like a few years ago as I really struggled. I am keeping back a couple of hundred as a sort of buffer for now.

Thank you.

ETA- my only income is income support, carer's allowance, child tax credit ,child benefit and my son gets middle rate care and low rate mobility DLA.

I don't know how to amend my thread title- flipping auto correct!

CakeCrusader

Hi

Carers allowance is a taxable income, but if this is your only income (other than tax credits/child benefit) then you'd be under the tax limit anyway, so you should still receive the same amount of tax credits. Have you double checked it on the entitledto web site??

You know that you're entitled to the disabled child element add on to your child tax credits?? You have to call them to tell them that your child receives DLA and the rates. There should be a disregard for the DLA if you're claiming housing benefit too.

I hope this helps.

Almost-free

CakeCrusader wrote: »

Hi

Carers allowance is a taxable income, but if this is your only income (other than tax credits/child benefit) then you'd be under the tax limit anyway, so you should still receive the same amount of tax credits. Have you double checked it on the entitledto web site??

You know that you're entitled to the disabled child element add on to your child tax credits?? You have to call them to tell them that your child receives DLA and the rates. There should be a disregard for the DLA if you're claiming housing benefit too.

I hope this helps.

Thanks for your quick reply, CakeCrusader! (Great name by the way!)

Thank you, I did know about the disability element of child tax credit- mine just dropped as he was dropped from high to middle rate care recently. I did check on entitled to, and it also showed no drop when I put in the carer's allowance but I wanted to be sure. I was given an incorrect award about 5 years ago even though all the info on the form was correct, they worked it out wrong. It almost crippled me paying it back and I never want to be in that situation again, so I do worry, but thank you, that's a relief.

CakeCrusader

You're welcome, and thank you, I like cake. There's 2 different amounts for the disabled element, one for a severely disabled child, and a lower amount for a child who needs a little less support. If yours changed when you were reassessed for DLA it's because of this. If the carers allowance is your only taxable income then it wouldn't make too much of a change to your tax credits as it's technically as a low income.

I'm sorry about the mistake, that sounds really unfair. Did you appeal? If you'd filled in the forms correctly and given them the right information, but the mistake was theirs, it's unfair to make you repay it.

There's places like the Family Fund who may be able to help with something that you need but can't afford, if you've heard of them

Darksparkle

Being on income support gives you the maximum tax credits so your carers is disregarded.

Almost-free

CakeCrusader wrote: »

I'm sorry about the mistake, that sounds really unfair. Did you appeal? If you'd filled in the forms correctly and given them the right information, but the mistake was theirs, it's unfair to make you repay it.

There's places like the Family Fund who may be able to help with something that you need but can't afford, if you've heard of them

I did appeal and my MP got involved but it was a nightmare and they just started taking the money back, so I had to give in. I didn't object to paying back money I wasn't entitled to, it was the speed they wanted it back which I felt was unfair.

We did have a grant from family fund when my son was first diagnosed, it was so generous I've never reapplied ( he got a large trampoline with safety nets and a computer and printer.) I also received a Macmillan grant last summer to buy a washing machine ( diagnosed with my second cancer in 6 years ) so I feel we've had our share of handouts!

Alice_Holt

CakeCrusader wrote: »

There's 2 different amounts for the disabled element, one for a severely disabled child, and a lower amount for a child who needs a little less support.

DLA Care has 3 rates. Low, Middle and High.

To be awarded the High rate , the child must need care during the night as well as the day.
If you child does need care during the night it may be worth getting advice from your local CAB about a supercession request.

To receive carers allowance the care award must be middle or high.

DLA mobility has 2 rates. Does your child receive a mobility award?

Some useful info on childrens DLA here:
http://www.cafamily.org.uk/media/824791/dla_factsheet.pdf

CakeCrusader

Sorry, Alice. It's the disabled child element of child tax credit which has 2 rates, not DLA. Sorry if I wasn't very clear.