Carers Credit

suki1964

Mum is 80 and in receipt of a pension so I see she can not claim for PIP and it looks unlikely that she can claim anything else

She has had a stroke and is now also in heart failure

She has lived with me the past 12 years

However she now does need more level of care than previously. She can no longer walk more then 25 yards, not allowed to use stairs, can't lift or carry anything etc etc

Since her discharge we have made adaptations to her bathroom and she has now got an electric buggy so she can get about the shops. He bed is one of those ones that raise her into a sitting position and he chair raises her to upright

Now obviously she has been pretty much independent till now, but now I have needed to cut back my hours at work to devout more time to her, drive her into town, stay with her whilst she gets her personal bits and bobs, hair cut etc, do her housework and washing etc etc

Now I don't want to be paid for this, she's me mum, but Im getting on myself and still have a good few years pension to fund and now my hours have decreased, Im not going to be getting anymore full years whilst she is with us

Can I claim carers credit without her having to claim any benefits?

It would really help me tbh as the wages I earn just about stretch as it is, I won't have enough in savings at the end of a year to buy back missed years

[Deleted User]

Gov website states the following:

“Eligibility

To get Carer’s Credit you must be:

aged 16 or over
under State Pension age
looking after one or more people for at least 20 hours a week
The person you’re looking after must get one of the following:

Disability Living Allowance care component at the middle or highest rate
Attendance Allowance
Constant Attendance Allowance
Personal Independence Payment - daily living component, at the standard or enhanced rate
Armed Forces Independence Payment
If the person you’re caring for doesn’t get one of these benefits, you may still be able to get Carer’s Credit. When you apply, fill in the ‘Care Certificate’ part of the application form and get a health or social care professional to sign it.”

pmlindyloo

Have you looked into claiming Pension Credit for your mum?

Have you looked into claiming Attendance Allowance or your mum?

How many hours do you work and how much are you paid each week? If your mum is awarded AA then you may be able to claim Carer's Allowance.


Has your mum had a social services adult assessment to see if you can get some extra help for her?

poppy12345

It maybe possible for her to claim Attendance Allowance if she needs help with personal care. There's no mobility part to this though.



https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/attendance-allowance/before-you-claim-attendance-allowance/check-if-entitled-to-attendance-allowance/

suki1964

poppy12345 wrote: »

It maybe possible for her to claim Attendance Allowance if she needs help with personal care. There's no mobility part to this though.



https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/attendance-allowance/before-you-claim-attendance-allowance/check-if-entitled-to-attendance-allowance/

Atm she doesnt as the aids are in place for her, shower stool, grab rails etc. I do the cooking, she's capable of making a cuppa and a sandwich and using the wheeled and tray zimmer to move about carrying stuff. She's still capable of keeping herself clean

It is really the mobility outside the home thats the problem. And we live miles out in the country so although she hasn't had her license revoked, she cant manage the scooter without help so she is trapped unless Im available to drive her into town


Do you think there is possibly enough care given to claim the credit element on its own merit as things stand now?

She isn't going to get any better, my step dad went the same way and I had to do the same caring for him for 5 years till he passed. This is why I have such big gaps on my own NIC, but I was younger then and thought Id make them up in time. That time now looks to have run out

poppy12345

suki1964 wrote: »

Do you think there is possibly enough care given to claim the credit element on its own merit as things stand now?

You won't be able to claim carers allowance for looking after her unless she's claiming Attendance Allowance, which includes the NI credits, if that's what you mean.



Have you read the link i posted above? As advised, she won't be able to claim anything for mobility.



What about pmlindyloo's advice about an assessment from social services for some help?

suki1964

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Have you looked into claiming Pension Credit for your mum?

Have you looked into claiming Attendance Allowance or your mum?

How many hours do you work and how much are you paid each week? If your mum is awarded AA then you may be able to claim Carer's Allowance.


Has your mum had a social services adult assessment to see if you can get some extra help for her?

Mum doesnt need pension credit as she has a good private income from private pensions

We haven't had any social services intervention. I was asked before her discharge if we were coping or did we want a SS referral but as we are and mum buys her own aids, we didn't get one - our own fault perhaps?

I had a look at AA but Im not sure she would qualify because she is self caring for personal care, with the use of the aids in place

Im on NMW, thats all the jobs around here pay, chef or loo cleaner, its NMW all the way. Im also on ZHC but get an average of 30 hrs a week - 45 during the holiday periods, but Im now looking at only committing to 15 hrs and hopefully be able to go in for a few hrs as and when I can. My husband is at home for those two days which means then mum isn't on her own so there is someone there to take her to the Doctors, Dentist, Hospital appointments etc

calcotti

suki1964 wrote: »

Atm she doesnt as the aids are in place for her, shower stool, grab rails etc. I do the cooking, she's capable of making a cuppa and a sandwich and using the wheeled and tray zimmer to move about carrying stuff. She's still capable of keeping herself clean(

The fact that the aids are in place means she needs them. My advice would be to put in a claim for Attendance Allowance.

Mojisola

calcotti wrote: »

The fact that the aids are in place means she needs them. My advice would be to put in a claim for Attendance Allowance.

But get help filling in the form.

calcotti

Mojisola wrote: »

But get help filling in the form.

Good advice. Can also refer to help available online such as https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/attendance-allowance/claiming-attendance-allowance/help-with-attendance-allowance-form/

The claim is essentially about help that is needed to get through the normal day in respect of being able to look after oneself. It doesn't include help with housework, shopping or gardening but does include getting in and out of bed, using the toilet, washing, dressing, moving around etc.

xylophone

See https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs34_attendance_allowance_fcs.pdf

Have you obtained a state pension forecast?

https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension