Carer's allowance

Not_Radio2

Person A, in receipt of PIP, (Standard care, enhanced mobility) has Person B, a 62 year old caring for them for in excess of 35 hours a week.
Person B is a 'semi-retired', self-employed, tradesperson in the Construction Industry. and is reasonably well off, owning their own house, having savings well over £16K and in the last six months had an inheritance windfall, to boot. (Does not claim any benefits, just receives some WTC).
Their gross earnings for the last tax year being a little over £5K, so effectively no tax paid last year - the 30% tax which had been taken off at source over the year by the Contractor, they did small jobs for, being refunded in full, once their Short Tax Return was checked by HMRC.
At what point does 'non-means tested benefit' actually mean this, please?
Person B is being morally held back from applying for Carers Allowance, but meets the criteria to receive this.
Could the Decision Maker at DWP discard the application on the grounds that if the applicant can well afford to maintain a standard of living by their own means, then they don't need to claim CA? Or is it a case that if they tick the boxes, then they are awarded it?
TIA.

calcotti

Not_Radio2 wrote: »

Could the Decision Maker at DWP discard the application on the grounds that if the applicant can well afford to maintain a standard of living by their own means, then they don't need to claim CA? Or is it a case that if they tick the boxes, then they are awarded it?

Carer's Allowance is an earnings replacement benefit to compensate people who are restricted in their work due to being a carer. If someone provides 35 hours of care per week to a person receiving a qualifying benefit they are entitled to claim Carer's Allowance provided they are not earning more than £123/week (after deductions) from employment or self-employment. Any other income and/or savings is irrelevant.

Alice_Holt

Criteria for CA:
https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance
https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/financial-support/help-with-benefits/carers-allowance
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/carers-allowance-information

Please read these carefully, and then tell us why you think "the Decision Maker at DWP could discard the application on the grounds that if the applicant can well afford to maintain a standard of living by their own means"

In any week when a carer has net earnings of more than £123 a week, they will not be eligible for CA,
As calcotti explains CA is an earnings replacement benefit.

Icequeen99

calcotti wrote: »

Carer's Allowance is an earnings replacement benefit to compensate people who are restricted in their work due to being a carer. If someone provides 35 hours of care per week to a person receiving a qualifying benefit they are entitled to claim Carer's Allowance provided they are not earning more than £123/week (after deductions) from employment or self-employment. Any other income and/or savings is irrelevant.

What Calcotti says is correct...but you say that person B is getting WTC. I find it hard to see how they can be unless they are working 16 hours a week and it looks like from their earnings they aren't working to that extent. But if they are, the CA will be income for tax credit purposes. (Obviously self-employed people can make no profit, but person B seems to be a contractor and therefore likely to be getting paid for the hours worked)

IQ

pmlindyloo

Icequeen99 wrote: »

What Calcotti says is correct...but you say that person B is getting WTC. I find it hard to see how they can be unless they are working 30 hours a week and it looks like from their earnings they aren't working to that extent. But if they are, the CA will be income for tax credit purposes. (Obviously self-employed people can make no profit, but person B seems to be a contractor and therefore likely to be getting paid for the hours worked)

IQ

I understood it that as the person is 'semi retired' they were over 60 and only had to work at least 16 hrs a week to receive WTC.

Icequeen99

pmlindyloo wrote: »

I understood it that as the person is 'semi retired' they were over 60 and only had to work at least 16 hrs a week to receive WTC.

Sorry I missed their age - you are right, but still it doesn't sound like they are consistently working 16 hours a week.

IQ