Carers allowance- Backdate

melissalilyxox

As of recently ive been aware from income support i have been eligble for carers allowance since i care for my father who recieves both high rate components of DLA, and has been since ‘08. My mother cared for him full time until 2011, where i split my time between college and coming home every 4 hours to meet my fathers needs. during this time i had two children, and have been on IC since 2011 in addition.
Back when carers allowance was introduced there was alot of confusion on how it would affect my IC, advisors pretty much told me the same over the years “itll only end up being a few quid a week and probably end up stopping your IC until sorted” so i decided not to apply ?

Until a few week ago advisor did the full calculations with me.
I immediatly applied, putting in 11/02/11 as a guess as to when my mother started working and i then took over care.
Next step it followed with a completly random date of claim which said 23/03/2014.
What is this date?
And what is the rules on backlog, read a few forums on numerous websites that people claim they have been able to backlog 7-10 years, as long as they have the award date of DLA.
I live with my father and provide care all day, and throughout the night
- however not an easy process ive heard claiming full amount - tribunal etc.
Im easily in alot of debt, so yes, i have struggled without this money and can prove so.
Just found out theyve sneakily been taking £40 adjusment out of my fathers pension, leaving him on around 80 a week. So using my own money to contribute for his bills has also been challenging.
Any ideas
Im awaiting the letter from carers allowance,
thanks

Alice_Holt

Carer's Allowance can usually only be backdated for a maximum of three months if you claim it within three months of a decision to award a qualifying benefit to the person you care for.

https://www.carersuk.org/forum/support-and-advice/carer-disability-benefits/carers-allowance-backdating-29884

pmlindyloo

OP, What is IC?

Plus, what benefits does your dad receive? Pension Credit? State Pension?

Did your mum receive CA for your dad? When did she stop claiming it (you say she started work but you can work and earn a certain amount and still claim CA)

Was the date (2014)when your mum stopped claiming CA or when you stopped your college course (was it deemed to be full time).

melissalilyxox

income support, sorry,
he recieves just a state pension however in the past he did recieve pension credit

i still im not too sure what benefits my mother recieved as my father set it up back in 08. I will be ringing carers credit with my mothers NI and asking them to check the dates and if she ever made a claim. Im pretty confident she would have recieved carers allowance, at that time i was 13. I didnt start caring for my father until i was 17, my mum went into full time work and everytjing stopped for my father including coucil tax exemption and rent paid.

So for 4 years i assume my mother claimed carers allowance.
I am now 23, so thats 6 years ive looked after my father and the start date of claim they have given me makes no sence (its 3 years from the day i applied ? )
I attended college from 16-20 year old and was in full time yes. I gave birth at 17 and thats when i started income support. I was the only one to complete with distinctions, really wanted to go uni & start to get my career into place and my fathers condition has deteriorated massively the last 2 years, and ive been struggling with 2 children, so i do feel robbed. Ive give up everything to look after him, and to know they owe me so much but will only pay me 3 months according to some?

I recieved a bursery weekly from when i attended college however.
This was £30 a week, which is equiv to what ive been losing out on.
I can take into account maybe i was not entitled to that money if i was in full time education
however proof can be shown that im the only provider of care to my father, and most ive cared truely over 35 hours a week since i was 17 and without myself there would have been no option other than to put himto a home 6 years ago. He just about stand and walk 2 steps now. Back when i was 17 he could walk about 20 steps before falling. Clearly I am obvious to be his main provider of care over these years.
So how could i not be entitled to the full amount, rather than 3 months?
thankyou

melissalilyxox

pmlindyloo wrote: »

OP, What is IC?

Plus, what benefits does your dad receive? Pension Credit? State Pension?

Did your mum receive CA for your dad? When did she stop claiming it (you say she started work but you can work and earn a certain amount and still claim CA)

Was the date (2014)when your mum stopped claiming CA or when you stopped your college course (was it deemed to be full time).

replied, forgot to quote sorry x

poppy12345

Alice's post #2 is correct, it can only be backdated for a maximum 3 months if you claim within 3 months of a qualifying benefit.

Full time students can not claim Carers Allowance.
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Carer-s-Allowance/Who-can-get-Carer-s-Allowance

whambam

So, let me get this right

CA can be backdated more than 3 months from the date of application or date of award stated on letter of qualifying benefit?

[Deleted User]

Not more than three months no, a maximum of three months.

poppy12345

whambam wrote: »

So, let me get this right

CA can be backdated more than 3 months from the date of application or date of award stated on letter of qualifying benefit?

It can be backdated from the start of the award of the qualifying benefit providing it's claimed within 3 months and all the other criteria applied at the time.

bigbill

You have zero chance of getting it backdated more that 3 months.

If you feel you could have had it earlier and did not claim due to the advice given by your adviser then go after them for the missing months / years?

poppy12345

bigbill wrote: »

You have zero chance of getting it backdated more that 3 months.

If you feel you could have had it earlier and did not claim due to the advice given by your adviser then go after them for the missing months / years?

This was a very old thread of 14 months old when whambam asked the question about CA.