Left my employment to care for husband

Honeyshields

My husband and I really need help, we have never been on benefits so don’t know what we are doing, we’ve asked the job centre for help but they only seem to be interested in myself finding a job. Our circumstances are as follows: my husband has suffered for 3-4 years with his hip, after many doctors appointments, he was advised a to have a full hip replacement, and we were advised by his nurse to apply for PIP, which we did back in May, we received the forms and sent them back.  My husband has had his operation which hasn’t helped his back, he received a text message beginning of October to say his forms had been received and are in front of the health officials.  My husband is self employed with his brother and hasn’t worked as he is unable so therefore hasn’t had a wage.  I had to leave my job to care for my husband (he can’t even put his socks on!).  I applied for universal credit as a joint claim, my husband handing in fit notes, we’ve done everything they have asked. My husband got carers allowance for his elderly father, where I have cared for his father due to my husband being unable to do so. My first payment for universal credit was supposed to be 25th October but was due to nil, due to carers allowance as a income and also my final wage of holiday pay.  My husband has been told he has to have his other hip replaced, therefore he and I will be unable to work for some lengthy time again.  I’ve explained to universal credit that I’m unable to work due to the care of 2 people, and I’m being told if I don’t look for work I will be sanctioned. We are struggling with bills whilst we await PIP (6 months now) and we just can’t go another month without any income. Any advice would be appreciated, as stated we have always worked and have never had to use any benefits so we don’t actually know what we are doing. Thank you 

Teapot55

Please can you say what ages you both are? As you have (quite correctly) used an anonymous name to post on here your privacy will be protected.

Welcome to the forum.

Honeyshields

I’m 45 and my husband is 47. 

Teapot55

@Honeyshields
Thanks. I will check back in later but hoping someone more knowledgeable than me will come along in a bit to answer your question. 

Brie

You have to keep banging on at the DWP that you can't work as you are a carer.  The carer issue should be logged as part of your UC and show that when you're not dealing with your husband you're dealing with FiL.

Brie

Sorry - meant to add that meanwhile you should find out your options for being able to access food banks, Olio, community fridges as all of those help you cut your costs.  Also check that both you and FiL are on social tariffs for al of your utilities as well as phone, broadband.  Your local Citizen's Advice or Community Money Advice team may be able to help further with these things.

peteuk

Your wage is taken from UC at a rate of 55p per pound.  A zero UC payment doesnt end your claim, so hopefully the next assessment period will bring you better fourtune.

tacpot12

If I have understood you correctly, you seem to be saying that your husband is still claiming carers allowance for looking after his father, even though he can't do so and you are now providing the same level of care in his stead (i.e. greater than 35 hours a week). This would appear to be your mistake. You need your husband to stop claiming Carers Allowance for looking after his father first, and then you can start claiming Carers Allowance. Once you have done this, you will not have any work search requirements, and you should paid Carers Allowance.

Assuming your husband is awarded PIP for Daily Care, you might want to think about whether you want to stop claiming Carers Allowance for your husband's father, and claim it for caring for your husband instead. The advantage of doing so is that someone else in the family might be prepared to provide your father-in-law with the care if they can also claim Carers Allowance. (You can't claim Carers Allowance for looking after two people). 

Honeyshields

Sorry, my husband cares for his father and got
carers allowance, up until he had his hip operation then I care for him (without carers allowance) the day my husband stopped caring, he notified them and no caters allowance is now paid. Hope the clarify things 

poppy12345

As you're caring for his father then you can claim carers element of UC for looking after him. You do not need to claim carers allowance to be entitled to carers element of UC. As a carer you will have no work commitments. 

Before claiming this you should check that it won't affect any benefits he may already be claiming, such as Pension Credit. If Severe disability Premium is included with any PC calculation then he will lose that if you claim Carers element or carers allowance for looking after him. 

Honeyshields

I was advised that I can’t claim carers allowance for my husband until his PIP claim is finalised.  My work coach told me this? Is the incorrect then? Again, sorry, as I really don’t know what I’m doing?  I have a video appointment this Thursday and I think I I need to suggest that a log needs to be compiled that I’m caring, although I’ve told them thousands of times. I’ve changed utilities and broadband etc to lower tariffs for people on benefits and this has helped. We are also only using our wood burner which helps.