Carers allowance and DLA

sarah1972

Hi everyone. 

My grandads social worker has told me that I should claim carers allowance for looking after him, she said it won’t affect his current DLA and mobility payments but I’m not convinced? 

He gets highest rate DLA and highest mobility. 

Thank you to anyone who can help. X 

poppy12345

imreadyforbed said:

 Can he claim attendance allowance as that wont effect your circumstances ,

No! AA is a disability benefit paid to those of state pension age and above.  If he claims it (assuming he is of that age)  then his DLA will end and AA doesn't have a mobility part to it so he will be worse off if he does claim it.

sarah1972 said:

Hi everyone. 

My grandads social worker has told me that I should claim carers allowance for looking after him, she said it won’t affect his current DLA and mobility payments but I’m not convinced? 

He gets highest rate DLA and highest mobility. 

Thank you to anyone who can help. X 

You can providing you don't earn more than the allowed amount, which is £139/week. https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

You also need to check that he doesn't claim  Severe disability Premium in another benefit such as pension credit. If he does and you claim CA then this will end. It could also affect any other benefits he maybe claiming, such as Housing benefit and Council Tax reduction.

If he doesn't claim this then claiming carers allowance will not affect his DLA. Do you claim any other benefits yourself? If so, which ones exactly?

sarah1972

imreadyforbed said:

depends if you work ? carers allowance will only be awarded if you work a certain amount of hours and earn below a certain amount as its awarded to you directly ( and its not alot tbh )   Can he claim attendance allowance as that wont effect your circumstances , it is paid directly to him and he can use it however he needs ( ie for someone helping him with daily care/shopping ect) and your SW is correct PIP / DLA isnt effected as it is awarded regardless of income / circumstances . 

My circumstances are ok and I am eligible. 

So it’s better for him to claim attendance allowance? 

sarah1972

poppy12345 said:

imreadyforbed said:

 Can he claim attendance allowance as that wont effect your circumstances ,

No! AA is a disability benefit paid to those of state pension age and above.  If he claims it (assuming he is of that age)  then his DLA will end and AA doesn't have a mobility part to it so he will be worse off if he does claim it.

sarah1972 said:

Hi everyone. 

My grandads social worker has told me that I should claim carers allowance for looking after him, she said it won’t affect his current DLA and mobility payments but I’m not convinced? 

He gets highest rate DLA and highest mobility. 

Thank you to anyone who can help. X 

You can providing you don't earn more than the allowed amount, which is £139/week. https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

You also need to check that he doesn't claim  Severe disability Premium in another benefit such as pension credit. If he does and you claim CA then this will end. It could also affect any other benefits he maybe claiming, such as Housing benefit and Council Tax reduction.

If he doesn't claim this then claiming carers allowance will not affect his DLA. Do you claim any other benefits yourself? If so, which ones exactly?

Thank you so much! 

He gets DLA, housing benefit and council tax reduction so I won’t claim it then if it will affect them. (‘why would it affect housing and council tax?) 

I claim no benefits and earnings below £139 a week.

Alice_Holt

Sarah1972

Does your granddad claim Pension Credit (PC) ?

Does he live alone?

If so, does his PC include an element for Severe disability Premium  (see poppy's) post ?


I would suggest you get all the details of the exact income / benefits / savings / circumstances (for both yourself and him) and both get accredited advice from your local advice charity.

Unfortunately the post by imreadyforbed  is inaccurate (again as poppy has detailed).

sarah1972

Alice_Holt said:

Sarah1972

Does your granddad claim Pension Credit (PC) ?

Does he live alone?

If so, does his PC include an element for Severe disability Premium  (see poppy's) post ?


I would suggest you get all the details of the exact income / benefits / savings / circumstances (for both yourself and him) and both get accredited advice from your local advice charity.

Unfortunately the post by imreadyforbed  is inaccurate (again as poppy has detailed).

Yes he gets pension credit but no severe disability premium 

Lives alone

This is my problem getting all his benefit details as he said all I get is DLA and nothing else and then I said but you don’t pay your rent and he said oh yes that too and then I said what about pension credit and he said oh yes and that too ! 

Alice_Holt

sarah1972 said:

Alice_Holt said:

Sarah1972

Does your granddad claim Pension Credit (PC) ?

Does he live alone?

If so, does his PC include an element for Severe disability Premium  (see poppy's) post ?


I would suggest you get all the details of the exact income / benefits / savings / circumstances (for both yourself and him) and both get accredited advice from your local advice charity.

Unfortunately the post by imreadyforbed  is inaccurate (again as poppy has detailed).

Yes he gets pension credit but no severe disability premium 

Lives alone

This is my problem getting all his benefit details as he said all I get is DLA and nothing else and then I said but you don’t pay your rent and he said oh yes that too and then I said what about pension credit and he said oh yes and that too ! 

         There are then (as I see it) 2 options open to you and your granddad:

i) He claims the Severe Disability Premium on his PC (he does this by contacting PC and telling them he gets the DLA care component). This will increase his PC by c.£76 pw.
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/severe-disability-premium
There might be a possibility of some backdate - but check this with the adviser you both see at your local advice charity.

ii) You claim Carers Allowance:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/carers-allowance/
This is the same amount as the SDP but gives you credits towards your State Pension (as you are not working or claiming other benefits - this might be useful to you).
https://www.litrg.org.uk/tax-guides/disabled-people-and-carers/caring-someone/pension-and-national-insurance-carers


Before you claim CA, I'd double claim his PC letters and make sure it doesn't include the SDP of £76pw.  As this will stop if you claim CA for looking after him 35hrs a week.

Indie_Kid

sarah1972 said:

imreadyforbed said:

depends if you work ? carers allowance will only be awarded if you work a certain amount of hours and earn below a certain amount as its awarded to you directly ( and its not alot tbh )   Can he claim attendance allowance as that wont effect your circumstances , it is paid directly to him and he can use it however he needs ( ie for someone helping him with daily care/shopping ect) and your SW is correct PIP / DLA isnt effected as it is awarded regardless of income / circumstances . 

My circumstances are ok and I am eligible. 

So it’s better for him to claim attendance allowance? 

No it's not better to claim attendance allowance as there's no mobility component.

sarah1972

Alice_Holt said:

sarah1972 said:

Alice_Holt said:

Sarah1972

Does your granddad claim Pension Credit (PC) ?

Does he live alone?

If so, does his PC include an element for Severe disability Premium  (see poppy's) post ?


I would suggest you get all the details of the exact income / benefits / savings / circumstances (for both yourself and him) and both get accredited advice from your local advice charity.

Unfortunately the post by imreadyforbed  is inaccurate (again as poppy has detailed).

Yes he gets pension credit but no severe disability premium 

Lives alone

This is my problem getting all his benefit details as he said all I get is DLA and nothing else and then I said but you don’t pay your rent and he said oh yes that too and then I said what about pension credit and he said oh yes and that too ! 

         There are then (as I see it) 2 options open to you and your granddad:

i) He claims the Severe Disability Premium on his PC (he does this by contacting PC and telling them he gets the DLA care component). This will increase his PC by c.£76 pw.
https://www.entitledto.co.uk/help/severe-disability-premium
There might be a possibility of some backdate - but check this with the adviser you both see at your local advice charity.

ii) You claim Carers Allowance:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/carers-allowance/
This is the same amount as the SDP but gives you credits towards your State Pension (as you are not working or claiming other benefits - this might be useful to you).
https://www.litrg.org.uk/tax-guides/disabled-people-and-carers/caring-someone/pension-and-national-insurance-carers


Before you claim CA, I'd double claim his PC letters and make sure it doesn't include the SDP of £76pw.  As this will stop if you claim CA for looking after him 35hrs a week.

You Gem! Thank you x 

poppy12345

Just to reiterate Alice's advice above because i feel you may not have understood the advice. 

It's important that you check that his pension credit doesn't include the SDP because it will stop if you claim CA for looking after him. If it doesn't then he's entitled to it so should claim it but if you then claim CA it will stop the SDP.

sarah1972

poppy12345 said:

Just to reiterate Alice's advice above because i feel you may not have understood the advice. 

It's important that you check that his pension credit doesn't include the SDP because it will stop if you claim CA for looking after him. If it doesn't then he's entitled to it so should claim it but if you then claim CA it will stop the SDP.

Yes, he doesn’t get SDP on his pension credit.