Applying for Carers Allowance

vivvov

Hello All

I've recently moved into my mum's in order to be on hand full-time to care for my 82 year old mum (who is in receit of Attendance Allowance) and is unfortunately in the early stage of being diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma.

From the online Carers Allowance, I can see that I should be eligible. Mum receives Attendance Allowance and I am not employed or in receipt of any benefits.

However my situation isn't as straightforward as usual.

Recent history is as follows.  I was employed up to 2017.  Then I stopped working.  Initially I applied for benefits but, due to assets was not eligible.  Then things happened rather fast. My dad was diagnosed with bowel cancer and passed and I ended up supporting mum.  Additionally I was also increasingly looking after a very close elderly uncle (who had no immediate family except mum and me) as he became increasingly infirmed. He evetually passed away after a long period of recurring hospitalisation and eventual entry into a care home.

During this period I was living between my narrowboat, staying with mum and staying with my partner. My partner was incredibly supportive and I just got on with looking after folk. 

I'd sold my flat prior to 2017 and had assets that I've frugally spent, plus my partner worked fulltime and was generous in looking out for me as I looked after my folks.  In the meantime I wasn't employed and wasn't topping up my NI contributions.

Additionally my own mental and physical health deteriorated.  Eventually my partner pushed me to seeing my GP and, on top of my mental health issues it turns out that I had hypothyroidism (quite  probably had it for a few years because I hate going to the doctor). So it had really hit me hard.  Prescribed thyroxine, it started to help the mental and physical health symptoms.  That was early 2020. Then Covid arrived.  I'd increasingly focused on looking after mum.  She was the person in my bubble..(between staying with her and on my narrowboat nearby).

My partner and I separated (very amicably) and then a neighbour mentioned Carers Allowance and applying for it. 

I hadn't considered it and just left it and left it.

Apologises for the long ramble. But can anyone foresee any problems with me applying for Carers Allowance considering I haven't been in the tax  system/employed or self employed since 2017.

Thanks for any answers in advance.

Rubyroobs

I cannot see any problems with you claiming carers allowance. Your mum is in receipt of a qualifying benefit ( AA ) and as long as you care for her for 35 hours a week there should not be a problem. You can back date it for up to 12 weeks if you have been caring for her during this time.

If you have savings/ capital of less than 16k then you may be able to claim Universal credit as well. You would get a standard element and a carers element and carers allowance would be deducted.

calcotti

Claiming Carer’s Allowance and/or Universal Credit will also mean you get NI credits.

greyteam1959

You will have no problems at all claiming Carers Allowance.
Get on & claim it ASAP.
As long as you fulfill their criteria they will pay it.

Spoonie_Turtle

You can backdate it for up to 3 months I believe, if you've met the criteria for however long you want to backdate it