Carers Allowance claim query

poppy12345

rarees1 said:

 As you have had to complete online, could it be that they will write to the person you are caring for to confirm it? 
 

No, that's not correct. They do not write to the person being cared for to confirm anything at all. Please make sure you check the advice you're giving is correct before commenting. This is not the first time your advice has been misleading.

Spoonie_Turtle

rarees1 said:

Be aware that on the old paper form the person you care for would be asked to sign that you were caring for them 35 hours a week at least.  As you have had to complete online, could it be that they will write to the person you are caring for to confirm it?  If that person is claiming means tested benefits, they will lose the equivalent of what you receive in their own benefits, (so it could take them below the means tested benefits limits,) except that if they are getting housing benefit or council tax support, this help will also reduce.  Sometimes between you and the cared for person, it's better for them to receive the full amount of their entitlement and for them to pay you directly.  

Best to check if you haven't already.  

The online form asks the claimant to confirm that a) they are providing 35hrs of care per eeek and b) that the person being cared for knows you're applying.  The carer's unit then checks the details of the caree's disability benefit claim (based on their NINO, DOB, etc.)

Robbie64

poppy12345 said:

rarees1 said:

 As you have had to complete online, could it be that they will write to the person you are caring for to confirm it? 
 

No, that's not correct. They do not write to the person being cared for to confirm anything at all. Please make sure you check the advice you're giving is correct before commenting. This is not the first time your advice has been misleading.

Carer's Allowance used write to the person being cared for though it was at the point Carer's Allowance was put in payment. The reason for the letter was to stop problems caused by the person being cared for losing the severe disability premium from ESA, IS etc. It's a bit of a backward step if they no longer send out that letter.

poppy12345

They send out a letter but they don't specifically ask them to confirm they are being cared for like it was suggested. Unless the person is a child then they don't send a letter.

Spoonie_Turtle

I haven't had any letters at all from them, but my ESA is new-style not income-related.

MrsBrooks13

Thanks all. I care for a 10 yr old so I won’t expect a letter!

They asked me to provide a recent pay docket, obviously to show I earn less than £128 a week.

But they also asked for my annual pension statement. Why would they want this? I am almost 20 years off retirement …….. what bearing does this have on eligibility?

MrsBrooks13

My claim is still outstanding. However, I’d like some advice please.  

My latest pay docket shows SSP (under the CA eligibility of £128 per week) but a CREDIT for a tax adjustment, which I assume is because I previously paid too much (?) which takes me to a total payment of £573 for the month!

Does this mean I won’t qualify for CA for that month if my overall claim is successful? 

calcotti

MrsBrooks13 said: My latest pay docket shows SSP (under the CA eligibility of £128 per week) but a CREDIT for a tax adjustment, which I assume is because I previously paid too much (?) which takes me to a total payment of £573 for the month!

Does this mean I won’t qualify for CA for that month if my overall claim is successful? 

The tax refund should be ignored.
See paragraph 150901

Earnings of employed earners are taxed under the PAYE scheme by direct deduction from wages or salary. Any refunds of income tax should be disregarded.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/893673/dmgch15.pdf

Alice_Holt

MrsBrooks13 said:

My claim is still outstanding. However, I’d like some advice please.  

My latest pay docket shows SSP (under the CA eligibility of £128 per week) but a CREDIT for a tax adjustment, which I assume is because I previously paid too much (?) which takes me to a total payment of £573 for the month!

Does this mean I won’t qualify for CA for that month if my overall claim is successful? 

     I'm not entirely sure of this, but:

     - The CA earnings limit is based on weekly earnings after tax, National Insurance. So, potentially yes.
     - However weekly earnings for the CA earnings limit can be averaged over an appropriate time period.

       I think it will depend on the period covered by the tax adjustment, and if any relates to the current week.
      If the element of the tax adjustment relating to the current week and your earnings for this week combine to take you over the £128 limit - then you won't qualify for this week.
      If not, then I think you should qualify - but you will need to explain this fully to the Carers Allowance Unit and show them exactly what weeks the tax adjustment relates to, for an unrecoverable CA payment to be made.

  Hth. 

calcotti

Alice_Holt said:
  I'm not entirely sure of this, but:

     - The CA earnings limit is based on weekly earnings after tax, National Insurance. So, potentially yes.
     - However weekly earnings for the CA earnings limit can be averaged over an appropriate time period.

       I think it will depend on the period covered by the tax adjustment, and if any relates to the current week.
      If the element of the tax adjustment relating to the current week and your earnings for this week combine to take you over the £128 limit - then you won't qualify for this week.
      If not, then I think you should qualify - but you will need to explain this fully to the Carers Allowance Unit and show them exactly what weeks the tax adjustment relates to, for an unrecoverable CA payment to be made.

I don't think any of these issues arise. it appears that the income tax refund should be ignored completely as per Decision Maker's Guide paragraph I have quoted above.

In general tax refunds under legacy benefits are treated as capital, not income (unlike UC where they can be either depending on the circumstances).