Stopping (and starting!) claim for carers allowance

muddlingmywaythrough

I've rung the Pension Credit Enquiry Line and apparently my dad does get SDA after all so they said I can be his carer but it will nullify his Pension Credit. I've had to tell dad that when he receives a letter from DWP informing him that I've applied for CA he needs to tell me so I can ring them and cancel the application because obviously I don't want him to lose out. He won't have a clue how to do it himself. I'm really disappointed and it doesn't seem fair at all.

Spoonie_Turtle

Will you still be providing care for the original person as well as them having agency carers?

If not:
Your dad, if he and you wanted, could pay you the equivalent of Carers Allowance if it wouldn't leave him short of money.  That way he keeps all the passported advantages of Pension Credit and you still get a little money.

I think you could apply for Carers Credit to keep getting NI credits - would need someone more knowledgeable to confirm that it wouldn't affect your dad's benefits though.  (I don't think it should because you'd not be getting any payment from the government, but am not 100% sure.)  https://www.gov.uk/carers-credit/eligibility

muddlingmywaythrough

Spoonie_Turtle said:

Will you still be providing care for the original person as well as them having agency carers?

If not:
Your dad, if he and you wanted, could pay you the equivalent of Carers Allowance if it wouldn't leave him short of money.  That way he keeps all the passported advantages of Pension Credit and you still get a little money.

I think you could apply for Carers Credit to keep getting NI credits - would need someone more knowledgeable to confirm that it wouldn't affect your dad's benefits though.  (I don't think it should because you'd not be getting any payment from the government, but am not 100% sure.)  https://www.gov.uk/carers-credit/eligibility

No I won't be providing care for the first person either. I was hoping dad might suggest paying me something (even if its not the full carers allowance) but I don't think it's even occurred to him and it's not something I feel happy suggesting.

poppy12345

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I think you could apply for Carers Credit to keep getting NI credits - would need someone more knowledgeable to confirm that it wouldn't affect your dad's benefits though.  (I don't think it should because you'd not be getting any payment from the government, but am not 100% sure.)  https://www.gov.uk/carers-credit/eligibility

Claiming carers credits will not affect entitlement to SDA. 

muddlingmywaythrough said:

I've had to tell dad that when he receives a letter from DWP informing him that I've applied for CA he needs to tell me so I can ring them and cancel the application because obviously I don't want him to lose out. He won't have a clue how to do it himself. I'm really disappointed and it doesn't seem fair at all.

Why wait until he receives that letter? You need to ring them ASAP to cancel it. Your dad can't ring carers allowance himself because you are the claimant. 

It's a shame you didn't make this phone call to check with PC before you claimed carers allowance because I mentioned the SDA the morning after you posted your question. 

muddlingmywaythrough

poppy12345 said:

Spoonie_Turtle said:

I think you could apply for Carers Credit to keep getting NI credits - would need someone more knowledgeable to confirm that it wouldn't affect your dad's benefits though.  (I don't think it should because you'd not be getting any payment from the government, but am not 100% sure.)  https://www.gov.uk/carers-credit/eligibility

Claiming carers credits will not affect entitlement to SDA. 

muddlingmywaythrough said:

I've had to tell dad that when he receives a letter from DWP informing him that I've applied for CA he needs to tell me so I can ring them and cancel the application because obviously I don't want him to lose out. He won't have a clue how to do it himself. I'm really disappointed and it doesn't seem fair at all.

Why wait until he receives that letter? You need to ring them ASAP to cancel it. Your dad can't ring carers allowance himself because you are the claimant. 

It's a shame you didn't make this phone call to check with PC before you claimed carers allowance because I mentioned the SDA the morning after you posted your question. 

I have rung them already to cancel the new application but when dad gets the letter I will ring them again to double check it's been done.

I spoke to my dad about SDA after you mentioned it and he was sure he didn't get it so I did the application. It was only yesterday that I thought I had better double check and that's when I rang the PC enquiry line and they told me he DID get it after all. Dad gets so confused about everything he obviously didn't realise. I could still claim CA but then not only will he lose his pension credit but because he's not getting pension credit he would also lose the financial help he gets with housing benefit etc