Carers Allowance

Jay_1987

Hi there,

I was wondering if I would be eligible to apply for carers allowance? My father has recently had very bad health and went on to attendance allowance towards the end of last year and I do care for him for more than 35 hours per week. I am on income related ESA work related activity group and was just wondering if it would be worth my while to do so and if it would cut the money I already get? I currently receive around £104 per week on ESA.

Jay_1987

Sorry, I should have also added I don’t have any further income and wanted to ask would it be backdated to when my fathers Attendance allowance started?

calcotti

If you claim CA it will be deducted from your ESA but the calculation will include a carer premium. The net result is that your will be better off by £38.85/week.

You can backdate the CA to when the AA started from.

However, before claiming CA, you should check whether your father can claim Pension Credit. If he lives alone and you do not claim CA he will be entitled to the Severe Disability Premium in the calculation of PC.

As you say you have no other income why is your ESA only £104/week?

poppy12345

calcotti said:

As you say you have no other income why is your ESA only £104/week?

OP said they are in the WRAG, wasn't that WRAG amount before the changes took place in April 2017?

Jay_1987 said:

Hi there,
. I am on income related ESA work related activity group

HillStreetBlues

£104  would be about the ESA with WRAG   at last years rates. (21/22)  £104.40

calcotti

Thanks both - I didn’t join it up!

HillStreetBlues

calcotti said:

Thanks both - I didn’t join it up!

If OP had posted the current  rate  of £107.60  you would got it straight away.

Jay_1987

calcotti said:

If you claim CA it will be deducted from your ESA but the calculation will include a carer premium. The net result is that your will be better off by £38.85/week.

You can backdate the CA to when the AA started from.

However, before claiming CA, you should check whether your father can claim Pension Credit. If he lives alone and you do not claim CA he will be entitled to the Severe Disability Premium in the calculation of PC.

As you say you have no other income why is your ESA only £104/week?

He isn’t entitled to any form of pension credit as my mum is younger than him, and she is also unwell so is unable to care for him.


So it is worthwhile to go for the carers allowance? I have tried to read online about it, and it said that it can be paid weekly or 4 weekly if I was allowed to get it. I get ESA every fortnight so am I right in thinking that would stay the same and I would receive the £38.85 caret premium in a separate payment every week or 4 weeks?

Jay_1987

Yes, I am on ESA WRAG and have been since 2016.

poppy12345

Jay_1987 said:

calcotti said:

If you claim CA it will be deducted from your ESA but the calculation will include a carer premium. The net result is that your will be better off by £38.85/week.

You can backdate the CA to when the AA started from.

However, before claiming CA, you should check whether your father can claim Pension Credit. If he lives alone and you do not claim CA he will be entitled to the Severe Disability Premium in the calculation of PC.

As you say you have no other income why is your ESA only £104/week?

He isn’t entitled to any form of pension credit as my mum is younger than him, and she is also unwell so is unable to care for him.


So it is worthwhile to go for the carers allowance? I have tried to read online about it, and it said that it can be paid weekly or 4 weekly if I was allowed to get it. I get ESA every fortnight so am I right in thinking that would stay the same and I would receive the £38.85 caret premium in a separate payment every week or 4 weeks?

There's no reason why you can't claim it. Your thoughts on how it's paid is not correct. The carers allowance will be deducted in full from your ESA and then they will add the carers premium of £38.85/week. Your ESA will be £76.75/week, £153.50/fortnight.

Carers allowance will then be paid separately £69.70/week and can be paid weekly or 4 weekly. When you claim online it will ask if you want to be weekly or 4 weekly.

Your total weekly income will increase by £38.85.

calcotti

Jay_1987 said:..am I right in thinking that would stay the same and I would receive the £38.85 caret premium in a separate payment every week or 4 weeks?

No

calcotti said:

If you claim CA it will be deducted from your ESA but the calculation will include a carer premium. The net result is that your will be better off by £38.85/week.

You get CA plus a reduced ESA but added together the total (the net result) is increased by £38.85.