Carer's Allowance query

Muttleythefrog

I was in the process of putting in my wife's claim for Carer's Allowance. It won't benefit us financially at the moment as it will of course be pound for pound deducted from Universal Credit. Our claim for U/C though we expect to end in coming months due to inheritance.

During the application process it enquires about holidays from caring over the last 26 weeks. I had assumed a claim from present date would not have restrictions on 'holidays' preceding it.

Can it be confirmed that entitlement to a new claim would be affected by holidays >4 weeks in previous 26 weeks? (Wife has just come back from 8 weeks abroad and has spent another period abroad in last few months).

Regards!

Spoonie_Turtle

I would imagine it asks so it covers backdated claims.  Whereas if your claim is only starting now, it should be irrelevant as it's paid in arrears.

The official guidance is at DMG Chapter 60, if that's any help.

Muttleythefrog

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I would imagine it asks so it covers backdated claims.  Whereas if your claim is only starting now, it should be irrelevant as it's paid in arrears.

The official guidance is at DMG Chapter 60, if that's any help.

Maybe my brain is getting poorer at understanding these things (or drained from handling a naturalisation application!). But seems to me they would look at previous 26 weeks as there always seems to be that backward checking to see if the caring requirements have been met (up to 4 weeks vacation from caring.. or longer if includes care recipient hospital stays). It doesn't seem to state this for new claims but I think the assumption is there for all unless someone can confirm otherwise. Wife has racked up 7 weeks abroad in recent months due to the demise of her mother so my reading is she wouldn't qualify at moment having spent less than 22 of last 26 weeks caring in person. So I may delay... she has further trips likely but lasting shorter as she still tries to deal with the foreign admin of this. It's a bit of a mess really... because the more restrictive things are for her spending time abroad the longer we will be stuck on income related benefits we can get out of. Setting up the CA would have just moved things into place for that inevitable coming reality of the estate being dealt with and distributed.

Spoonie_Turtle

I see what you're saying, but

"60037 It is not essential for claimants to show that at the date of claim they have already been regularly engaged in caring for a severely disabled person. An intention to care for a severely disabled person should be taken into account in deciding if the condition at DMG 60035 is satisfied."

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65733b9b33b7f20012b72163/dmg-vol10-ch60.pdf

Reading through the guidance it seems quite clear people only need to meet the conditions for the benefit once claiming it.

Muttleythefrog

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I see what you're saying, but

"60037 It is not essential for claimants to show that at the date of claim they have already been regularly engaged in caring for a severely disabled person. An intention to care for a severely disabled person should be taken into account in deciding if the condition at DMG 60035 is satisfied."

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65733b9b33b7f20012b72163/dmg-vol10-ch60.pdf

Reading through the guidance it seems quite clear people only need to meet the conditions for the benefit once claiming it.

Ah thankyou for clarifying that... yes I see what you say.

HillStreetBlues

Having read though the guidance I totally agree with Spoonie past is irreverent unless trying to be backdated. 

Muttleythefrog

HillStreetBlues said:

Having read though the guidance I totally agree with Spoonie past is irreverent unless trying to be backdated. 

Thanks.... makes me feel a bit better about it. I'll look to starting the claim at the beginning of a UC assessment period (yesterday!) unless anyone has better strategic advice... but I'm also thinking she is going to be travelling abroad for unknown lengths unknown times in coming months/years...lol.. indecision... may be worth holding off.