Can I Claim PIP For Caring For My Mum Even Though I Am Working Full Time?

Truegho

Can I claim PIP - or any other care allowance - for caring for my mum (she can't walk very far due to arthritis and other ailments) even though I am working full time?

My mum is on Pension Credit, is 88, and is currently awaiting a form to claim Attendance Allowance.

marcia_

Truegho said:

Can I claim PIP - or any other care allowance - for caring for my mum (she can't walk very far due to arthritis and other ailments) even though I am working full time?

My mum is on Pension Credit, is 88, and is currently awaiting a form to claim Attendance Allowance.

 Its not you who would claim pip unless you have an illness or medical condition. 

 You would apply for carers allowance once she was granted attendance allowance but you might not qualify if earnings are full time 

BridgetTheCat

No. You can’t claim PIP at all. It’s a benefit paid to the disabled person to help with the extra costs of being disabled. 

Your mum might have been able to claim it had she still been under state pension age. 

Rubyroobs

PIP is not an allowance paid for caring for someone. It is a disability benefit for people under state pension age. If she is awarded Attendance Allowance then you could claim carers allowance for caring for her if you provide 35 hours of care a week and earn under £196 a week. If you work full time it's likely that you will exceed this earnings threshold. and so will not qualify. If you claim Universal credit then you may qualify for the carers element of UC which has no earnings threshold. 

Uriziel

I believe they ask if you spend over 35 hours a week caring for someone before you get paid for it by the government. If you are working full time I guess you don't do that.

Spoonie_Turtle

Uriziel said:

I believe they ask if you spend over 35 hours a week caring for someone before you get paid for it by the government. If you are working full time I guess you don't do that.

Mornings, evenings, overnight, weekends - a lot of carers do.

Caz3121

Uriziel said:

I believe they ask if you spend over 35 hours a week caring for someone before you get paid for it by the government. If you are working full time I guess you don't do that.

there are 168 hours in a week...many people work full time and still care 35 hour+ for others as well 

hasjav

If you are not able to claim Carers Allowance due to your earnings, you might be able to receive the Carers Element through Universal Credit if you are caring for someone for 35 hours or more and if the cared for person receives a qualifying disability benefit. However, there is a caveat; if your mum receives pension credit then it would be affected if you claim the carers element for UC.

Just so you know, you can make an online claim for Attendance Allowance though it might not be available in/for some areas. You cannot apply online if you:

• are an appointee
• have power of attorney

Here's the link: https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/how-to-claim