Carers Allowance Query

greyteam1959

I am considering claiming Carers Allowance for myself for looking after my elderly mother.
I have read all the guidance regarding claiming this & it refers to 'practical tasks' & 'physically' helping the person which of course I do.
I also handle all her finances ( with a POA ) & I am finding that this can take up a considerable amount of time.
Would this be counted in the 35 hours a week of my time ??
I do have a contact number for the Carers Allowance Helpline but I was wondering if anybody had any info or knowledge in the meantime.
TIA

calcotti

You can only claim Carers Allowance if she is in receipt of a disability benefit DLA, PIP or Attendance Allowance. Does she get any of these? If she doesn’t but she needs frequent help the starting point is for her to claim Attendance Allowance.

If she is getting a disability benefit do you know if she also gets Pension Credit and if so does it include a Severe Disability Addition. If she does she will lose the SDP if you claim Carer’s Allowance.

If you do claim CA you will not be asked to justify the 35 hours.

greyteam1959

Thanks for the info.
She does get AA.
I have worked out the hours that I deal with her & really I cannot say with all honesty that I spent 35 hours per week helping her.
I would not want to claim Carers Allowance & not be able to justify the hours if it was required.

Mojisola

greyteam1959 wrote: »

I have read all the guidance regarding claiming this & it refers to 'practical tasks' & 'physically' helping the person which of course I do.
I also handle all her finances ( with a POA ) & I am finding that this can take up a considerable amount of time.
Would this be counted in the 35 hours a week of my time ??

Yes, it would.

poppy12345

You still need to check what benefits your mum is claiming before deciding what to do.


If she lives alone and claims pension credit then she could be receiving the severe disability premium and a claim for carers allowance will stop this, as advised in post #2.

greyteam1959

poppy12345 wrote: »

You still need to check what benefits your mum is claiming before deciding what to do.


If she lives alone and claims pension credit then she could be receiving the severe disability premium and a claim for carers allowance will stop this, as advised in post #2.

The only benefit she claims is AA.
She lives with my Dad, her husband.
Actually putting in a new claim for higher rate AA because she now needs attendance during the night.

sparkiemalarkie

greyteam1959 wrote: »

I am considering claiming Carers Allowance for myself for looking after my elderly mother.
I have read all the guidance regarding claiming this & it refers to 'practical tasks' & 'physically' helping the person which of course I do.
I also handle all her finances ( with a POA ) & I am finding that this can take up a considerable amount of time.
Would this be counted in the 35 hours a week of my time ??
I do have a contact number for the Carers Allowance Helpline but I was wondering if anybody had any info or knowledge in the meantime.
TIA

I expect that you spend far more than 35 hours a week looking after your mum.
You don't have to phisically be with her to be helping. Things such as
making phone calls on her behalf, attending doctor/hospital appointments, filling in forms on her behalf, being available, popping in to visit regularly, monitoring medication, taking her out to the garden centre/visit friends , paying bills,balancing her accounts and so on.


hth


sparkie

calcotti

Found this which might give you some reassurance:

https://www.carersuk.org/images/Factsheets/Carers_Allowance_2018-19_FINAL.pdf

The 35 hours can include:
> time spent physically helping the person
> time you spend ‘keeping an eye’ on the person, eg preventing them coming to harm by walking out of the house
> time spent doing practical tasks for the person, eg cooking
> time taken doing practical tasks, even if you don’t do them in the presence of the person, may also count (for instance, if you look after someone who visits you regularly for the care they need, time spent preparing for the visit or cleaning up afterwards should count)