Can I claim carer's benefit as I cannot work due to caring for my son

MoreCoffee

My son (16 years old) has been diagnosed with a personality disorder and I am his carer. I have been looking for a job that fits in around doctors appointments, hospital visits and needing to support him but it is impossible. Can I claim any kind of carer's benefit?

Darksparkle

Eligibility is here - https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

MoreCoffee

Thanks. He is still in education though and does not receive any benefits. It looks like he needs to be receiving benefits for me to be eligible.

w06

He has to be recieving either PIP daily living component or DLA atleast middle rate care, and you have to be providing 35 hours a week of care, and not earnign over £116/week.

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

poppy12345

MoreCoffee wrote: »

My son (16 years old) has been diagnosed with a personality disorder and I am his carer. I have been looking for a job that fits in around doctors appointments, hospital visits and needing to support him but it is impossible. Can I claim any kind of carer's benefit?

He maybe able to claim PIP, he doesn't need to be working to claim this. Take a look at this table of descriptors and see if any apply to him. If they do and you have evidence to support a claim then you could ring to start a claim off. http://www.focusondisability.org.uk/personal-independence-payment-PIP-assessment-points.html