Casual work & Carers Allowance

Maevebaby

Hi, I was recently granted Carers allowance and stated on the form I was a casual worker. I don't work every month as I invigilate at a school but when I do work I get paid monthly. I also stated monthly pay. After reading some forums, I am still confused as to whether I need to report each month I get paid even if it does not exceed the monthly amount.  I called DWP but the person I spoke to seemed as confused as me and said I could call when I get paid or wait to hear if they require anything more from me I.e a payslip. Will my payment be stopped each month i work even though averaged over the 4 weeks it is not over the weekly amount.  Any help appreciated as I am so confused, why is it so difficult?. Thanks 

WelshPaul

I claim carers allowance and work part-time, paid monthly.

You need to phone the carers and tell them that you work, who you work for and that you’re paid monthly. You do not need to report your monthly earnings unless you go above the threshold that carers say you’re allowed to earn. I believe the monthly amount you are allowed to earn is £654.33 after deductions.

https://www.carersuk.org/media/gciokquc/carers-allowance-earnings-limit.pdf">https://www.carersuk.org/media/gciokquc/carers-allowance-earnings-limit.pdf

Maevebaby

Thank you. I did tell them on the form and also when I called today. As I am an invigilator and don't work every week the lady I spoke to wasn't sure how I would be assessed. Does working casual work differ from part time every week? Think this is my confusion 😕 

Maevebaby

She did mention the £164 a month

sammyjammy

That's the weekly amount, I think you've done your due diligence and informed them.  Just keep any payslips and make sure you let them know if you go above £654.33 take home.

WelshPaul

Read the document I linked to above, it tells you everything you need to know.

Key information:

• For 2024/25, the earnings limit is £151 per week (after deductions).
• If you are in work and are paid monthly, your monthly earnings would be multiplied by 12 to calculate your yearly income and then divided by 52 to get a weekly figure.

My earnings vary both weekly and monthly because my working hours vary. Can you advise?
If your net earnings often vary because you don’t have fixed work hours or you don’t work every week, your earnings can be averaged. This means that the decision maker deciding whether you qualify for Carer’s Allowance will look for a regular pattern in your earnings over a period of time, or a ‘cycle’. 

Will a bonus affect my Carer’s Allowance?
Bonuses count as earnings so need to be taken into account when checking if you have gone over the earnings limit. 

Who do I need to contact if I do go over the limit?
Notify the Department of Work and Pensions through the Carer’s Allowance Unit as soon as possible.

I'm going from memory here... When I called to report that I was working, I was asked for the name and address of my employer, how many hours I worked per week/month and if I was paid weekly or monthly. Like you, my hours vary month to month and during the months of July and August I don't work any hours. I simply told them that I had a zero-hour contract and that my hours would vary month by month. I told the advisor that I expected my working hours to be somewhere between 16–30 hours per month, which put me well under the monthly maximum income allowed at that time of £602.

I was told that it had been entered into the system and that a decision maker would look at my claim and if there was a problem, they would be in touch. I was also told that if my monthly income went above the £602 allowed, I needed to call them and notify them of this as soon as possible.

Maevebaby

Thank you i feel a little better. As long as I stay under the monthly amount I should be ok