Carers allowance headache

muddlingmywaythrough

I was a carer for a (very difficult) old lady for about 18 months and was claiming carers allowance for doing this. It was actually her suggestion that I put in a claim as I was helping her so much and had been doing so for a couple of years at that point. She recently had to go into hospital and I said I felt that she needed more care than I could provide so I stopped my claim.

It's a long story but she recently had her dog removed from her for neglect after reports were made by her neighbours. She holds me responsible for this (it was nothing to do with me, though I had raised my concerns about the dog with her previously, which is probably why she thinks I reported her) and has now threatened to report me to the carer's allowance department and tell them I never helped her and that I need to repay all the money I've claimed. It's categorically untrue and even members of her own family have said she's being completely unreasonable and have apologised to me for her behaviour.

What I wondered is IF she does report me for a fraudulent claim, how is it likely to be dealt with? I have kept some of the vitriolic emails and phone calls she has made and I have reported the situation to the police but have stopped short of reporting her for harassment (at this stage anyway, if she carries on I may have to).  There are also plenty of people (neighbours etc) who could vouch for how much I helped her, though obviously they may not want to get involved.

Brie

I would write down some notes about the amount of care you did do, when, what, frequency etc.  So if it was every day, if it was lots of hours on some days, not a lot on others.  Did you do her shopping, take her out, doctor's appointments?  Even walk, feed and clean up after the dog for her?  

I frankly don't know what they would say about any complaint she might lodge.  She might not lodge anything.  People currently around her might back your story about her being vindictive or how much work she is in general.  

Gather the evidence now so that you've got it when it's fresh in your memory rather than in a year or whenever someone might ask you about it.  That you are organised about it would likely, in my opinion, count in your favour.

muddlingmywaythrough

Brie said:

I would write down some notes about the amount of care you did do, when, what, frequency etc.  So if it was every day, if it was lots of hours on some days, not a lot on others.  Did you do her shopping, take her out, doctor's appointments?  Even walk, feed and clean up after the dog for her?  

I frankly don't know what they would say about any complaint she might lodge.  She might not lodge anything.  People currently around her might back your story about her being vindictive or how much work she is in general.  

Gather the evidence now so that you've got it when it's fresh in your memory rather than in a year or whenever someone might ask you about it.  That you are organised about it would likely, in my opinion, count in your favour.

Thank you for the reply.

I will do as you suggest and record what I did. I saw her between 9am-2.30pm every weekday as well as ad hoc hours over the weekend. I did her housework, took her to appointments, did her shopping, her cleaning, walked her dog daily, cleaned up after it and took it to vet appointments as well as taking her for trips out. I also managed the flats she owned (flat inspections, liaised with estate agents etc) which is probably well outside my remit as a carer.

I will make a note of everything. I am sure that some people around her (family, neighbours etc) will confirm what I'm saying if it's needed.