Carers allowance

Markdavid1962

My wife is disabled and gets DLA (indefinite) due a chronic spinal injury. I have never claimed carers allowance as I have been in fulltime employment and was under the impression I could not claim due to earning over weekly limit.

However I am now unemployed and have just received my P45 am thinking about claiming Carers allowance, In the current tax year I am regarded as a higher rate taxpayer (40%) do I need to wait for the new tax year before I claim. I will also be claiming jobseekers

Any advice welcome

Robbie64

If you are going to claim JobSeeker's Allowance you won't be able to also claim Carer's Allowance. Both are income replacement benefits and only the higher of the two benefits (JSA) can be paid.

You don't have to wait until the new tax year to claim CA though it is counted as taxable income (as is JSA).

calcotti

Given that the difference between JSA and CA is not very much and you can’t receive both you may prefer to opt for CA rather than JSA because for JSA you will have to attend JobCentre frequently and prove that you are seeking work whereas you will be left alone on CA.