Carer's Allowance overhaul needed to prevent 1,000s being chased for overpayments, says charity

nannytone_2

You must claim a DWP benefit.  Either DLA.PIP. AA or the Scottish equivalent.
CA can't be claimed unless one of those is in payment.

Spoonie_Turtle

nannytone_2 said:

You must claim a DWP benefit.  Either DLA.PIP. AA or the Scottish equivalent.
CA can't be claimed unless one of those is in payment.

Not quite.

On the gov.uk eligibility page it includes these non-DWP benefits:

• Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
• Armed Forces Independence Payment

MouldyOldDough

M25 said:

I hope this 'story' never gets more traction. I keep seeing it pop up it's hardly the Post Office scandal is it? That money belongs to everyone here not the people who spent it.

Yes, carers don't getting enough financial support or respect but that's got nothing to do with claiming something they are not eligible for. I have read several cases/examples and they're all essentially theft. Yes, make the system simplier and faster acting if need be but people should know what they're doing.

People claimed money they shouldn't have been getting. It's that simple.

Personal responsibility.

What, exactly are you claiming ?

It sounds as if you are saying that claimants of CA should not be claiming the benefit ?

MouldyOldDough

sarah1972 said:

My husband has terminal cancer and we said no to carers because I am more than happy to do it.£81.90 for way more than 35 hours a week 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ Even if it was only 35 hours, it’s a pittance  

My wife cares for me and we reckon that over the 15 years - she has saved the country over £100,000 .....she doesn't complain but she is worth far more than £81.90 per week to me.

its worse than a pittance - its an insult - £2.34 per hour maximum

She probably works for 60 hours per week and, even if she was capable of working elsewhere - she is limited to another 15 hours on minimum pay, before losing her CA .. That's just WRONG

Spoonie_Turtle

MouldyOldDough said:

M25 said:

I hope this 'story' never gets more traction. I keep seeing it pop up it's hardly the Post Office scandal is it? That money belongs to everyone here not the people who spent it.

Yes, carers don't getting enough financial support or respect but that's got nothing to do with claiming something they are not eligible for. I have read several cases/examples and they're all essentially theft. Yes, make the system simplier and faster acting if need be but people should know what they're doing.

People claimed money they shouldn't have been getting. It's that simple.

Personal responsibility.

What, exactly are you claiming ?

It sounds as if you are saying that claimants of CA should not be claiming the benefit ?

Considering the thread is about overpayments, it seems reasonable to infer they are referring to people claiming despite earning over the threshold (whether knowingly or not), thus being ineligible for the benefit.

Gandalf644

nannytone_2 said:

You must claim a DWP benefit.  Either DLA.PIP. AA or the Scottish equivalent.
CA can't be claimed unless one of those is in payment.

No.

I receive Constant Attendance Allowance as part of my War Disablement Pension which is not a DWP benefit, but provided by/paid by the Ministry of Defence via Veterans_UK. I do not claim anything from the DWP at all.

Because the DWP do not have joined up records, they 'lose' details of me as it is manually input (which they forget to do). Hence my carer 'loses' her payment of Carers Allowance on a semingly regular basis.

It not only affects me, but speaking to other injured/disabled veterans, it is an ongoing problem, caused by aged/creaking IT systems.

M25

Gandalf644 said:

M25 said:

I hope this 'story' never gets more traction. I keep seeing it pop up it's hardly the Post Office scandal is it? That money belongs to everyone here not the people who spent it.

Yes, carers don't getting enough financial support or respect but that's got nothing to do with claiming something they are not eligible for. I have read several cases/examples and they're all essentially theft. Yes, make the system simplier and faster acting if need be but people should know what they're doing.

People claimed money they shouldn't have been getting. It's that simple.

Personal responsibility.

The DWP also have a responsibility, in my/my carer's case, to make sure my carer is actually paid carers allowance!

Every so often, they simply stop paying her.

The reason apparently, is because I do not claim any benefits from the DWP, so their Carers Allowance system kicks my carer off their books. She has to then reapply to get it set up again.

They really do need to have a fully joined up system. This would include real-time PAYE information of the carers, so they are instantly aware of carers are over earning.

That, of course is a matter for the Government investing in IT systems capable of doing the job correctly. 

That's nothing to do with people essentially stealing money is it? Take up your complaint with your MP.