Carers Allowance question

issybee27

Hello, hope all is well. Just wondering if someone could please give some advice? My Mother receives employment support allowance and is quite ill, unable to do much around the house, unable to cook and sometimes unable to wash herself. She walks with a stick around the house and we have a wheelchair when going out. I currently back at home following the death of my Father and Sister and not working at the moment as looking after mum is pretty full on. Would I be able to claim Carers Allowance with my mother in receipt of Employment Support Allowance? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Mojisola

Your mother would need to be getting PIP or AA, depending on her age, for you to claim CA. It would be worth putting in a claim.

https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

issybee27

Thanks for your reply, I forgot to add my mother is 60 years old this August. I had read she would need PIP or AA, but my aunt who works in the health sector mentioned to me to apply for CA, so I was just wondering if you can apply without either PIP or AA.

Stripeybat

I don't know if this link helps at all?

https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

It does seem to say you cant claim unless your mum is in receipt of AA or PIP. Given what you've said in this post, I would definitely suggest she makes a claim. Good luck x

issybee27

Thanks, I think she should, since my Father's death she has went down hill fast, since she had an assessment for ESA she has just got worse. Will her applying for AA or PIP effect her ESA?

Torry_Quine

issybee27 wrote: »

Thanks, I think she should, since my Father's death she has went down hill fast, since she had an assessment for ESA she has just got worse. Will her applying for AA or PIP effect her ESA?

She would apply for PIP as AA is for pension aged people. It is separate from ESA and is about care and or mobility needs and can be claimed by people working. She has to have had the needs for 3 months and expected for the next 9.

issybee27

Thanks, well I hope she gets better, but to be honest I cannot see it happening, her eating is terrible and the therapy for depression hasn't really helped, just wish I could do something more to help.

[Deleted User]

You could perhaps get carers national insurance credits without her getting PIP or AA

pmlindyloo

What is your situation? Do you have a partner? Savings?

If you meet the means test for Income Support you can claim this for up to 6 months once your mum has put in a claim for PIP. You do not have to wait until a decision is made. If she is then awarded PIP you can put in a claim for Carer's Allowance and it will be backdated to the date of the PIP decision.