Carers allowance while on ESA

ShaunOfTheDead78

didnt realise it could be a mix of both this has confused me slightly more lol but just so i know i should be slightly better off is a god send in itself

ShaunOfTheDead78

Am I also correct in thinking it will be backdated to the point of my partner being awarded pip 3 months ago?

calcotti

ShaunOfTheDead78 wrote: »

Am I also correct in thinking it will be backdated to the point of my partner being awarded pip 3 months ago?

Provided you claimed within 3 months of her award being made it can be backdated to the date her award starts from (which may of course be considerably more than 3 months) provided you met the qualifying conditions of providing 35 hours care and not earning over the earnings limit. I assume that this is not automatic and you have to ask for - not sure on that point.

If your claim is more than 3 months after the PIP decision then maximum CA backdating is 3 months.

ShaunOfTheDead78

Thanks for the reply, when I applied for carers allowance I did answer that I was claiming from the date she was awarded, which was about 3-4 months ago. My only concern and slight confusion remaining now, is the fact of when you state that, as I'm on ESA income related I will be paid CA, then have my ESA reduced. So am I correct in assuming, that if I'm backdated my CA, I have to automatically hand that back to ESA? This really is a confusing and annoying benefits system :rotfl:

poppy12345

ShaunOfTheDead78 wrote: »

Thanks for the reply, when I applied for carers allowance I did answer that I was claiming from the date she was awarded, which was about 3-4 months ago. My only concern and slight confusion remaining now, is the fact of when you state that, as I'm on ESA income related I will be paid CA, then have my ESA reduced. So am I correct in assuming, that if I'm backdated my CA, I have to automatically hand that back to ESA? This really is a confusing and annoying benefits system :rotfl:

If you claimed CA 4 months after the PIP award decision then you won't be backdated money to the start of the PIP claim, as advised, it will only be backdated 3 months.


CA is deducted £1 for £1 from Income Related ESA and they add the carers element to your ESA. CA then pay you what's deducted from the ESA.



This means that you won't be backdated the full amount of CA because you already received it in with your ESA, instead you'll receive the carers element of £36 per week backdated.

ShaunOfTheDead78

Ahhhhh ok well that has cleared everything right up for me then ty so much for everyone's vital input much appreciated :T