DLA and carers allowance

FBaby

I would say that most of what you quoted most parents do for their kids already.

Otherwise, totally agree for someone who has physical need not mental health.

GlasweJen

Wait a minute if you can cook half the time why can't you cook the rest of the time? If I could cook then I'd do half as that's fair and how things happen in most households in modern day Britain. The fact I'm paralysed and have black outs means I can't cook it's simply not safe.
My bipolar sister can't cook as if she's manic she barely lets the food touch the pan and then gets restless so serves it up anyway and if she's depressed she would probably fall asleep while it's cooking. Now I could say "hang on Hannah, you need to let that cook for a bit longer" but she would probably be taking me a run up the hall and using my wheelchair as a scooter, if I was trying to wake her up then she would completely ignore me and probably ignore a fire alarm.

pmlindyloo

I agree about moving to discussion board (not sure it will happen!) but since this is a relatively 'gentle' discussion I don't mind posting.

I think the thing that people have forgotten is that CA is an out of work benefit based on the principle that people give up work to care for the majority of their day - i.e if they didn't find themselves in these circumstances then they would be working.

Plus, if a couple are receiving income based benefits (I think Nannytone has already pointed this out) the CA is counted as income and deducted from their means tested benefit. Yes, a Carer's premium is added but even with two people claiming this is only an extra £60 a week. (or thereabouts)

I don't think we should focus on how many hours people are claiming they care. It is often a case of just 'being there' for a disabled person.

Yes, the system is abused but no more (I suspect) than any other of the benefits available.

I try to think that, in most cases, caring for those at home with disabilities saves the tax payer an awful lot of money that would have to be spent to replace that care given. Add into that the positive aspects of having a loved one around for mental and emotional well being ( irreplaceable) then I think the £60 odd a week is a bargain.

As for the OP I feel very sorry for her. I suspect that she is in a bad financial situation, overwhelmed by her child's challenging behaviour and is almost 'grasping at straws' feeling that more money will be the answer to all her problems. And indeed there may be some truth in that. Being more financially secure may mean that she is less frazzled and more able to cope.

Personally I think she should be looking for more support for both her child and her financial situation.

FBaby

Plus, if a couple are receiving income based benefits (I think Nannytone has already pointed this out) the CA is counted as income and deducted from their means tested benefit. Yes, a Carer's premium is added but even with two people claiming this is only an extra £60 a week. (or thereabouts)

I totally agree with this, but how many CA claimants have actually given up their job to care for the person they claim for. I expect very few.

I would be much more supportive of a system that paid a higher monthly figure to those who are indeed giving up a job (assuming it was more than 16 hours) to look for someone rather than handing over cash to someone who had already made the decision not to work and for whom CA is not replacement but additional income.

pmlindyloo

FBaby wrote: »

I totally agree with this, but how many CA claimants have actually given up their job to care for the person they claim for. I expect very few.

I would be much more supportive of a system that paid a higher monthly figure to those who are indeed giving up a job (assuming it was more than 16 hours) to look for someone rather than handing over cash to someone who had already made the decision not to work and for whom CA is not replacement but additional income.

To be eligible for CA the person who you are caring for must be receiving the middle rate care for DLA or the daily living component of PIP.

Although I understand what you are saying if either of the above have been awarded then it does suggest that the child/person has quite severe needs.

Yes, there are always exceptions but I do not think CA is the problem. I think that past awards for DLA were sometimes given incorrectly (just my opinion)

With the change to PIP (at least for adults) this is certainly not the case. In fact it could be said that the assessment procedure for PIP is so exacting that many people are not getting what they are entitled to.

Have not dealt with many DLA cases in recent times but suspect that the 'threshold' has also been raised.

FBaby

Not so severe needs that the person forcibly requires 35 hours care. Most children entitled to middle care go to school full - time so that doesn't leave much time to provide care that is additional to what any mum provides.

Very different case scenario to a child too disabled to go to school full - time.