Carers Allowance does my mum have to contribute ?

Lovingitifitsabargain

Hi, my step-dad had a stoke a couple of years ago - my mum gave up work (she is 60 now anyway) and looks after him 24/7 - he needed help to get to bathroom and she would have to bathe him aswell as help him to get from a to b as not strong enough on his legs to do it for himself - anyway to cut a long story short - he broke his hip in a fall was in hospital for 5 weeks is now home but has carers who come in twice a day to wash him get him up then wash him put him back to bed - the council have rung mum today saying they need to visit her to see if she should be contributing towards this help - she gets carers allowance already and they have their pension - does anyone know where she stands - they have no savings - she is panicking as has read that it could be anything from nil - 12.00 an hour she will have to contribute

purple12

Payments of these kind are entirely dependent on the local authority in question. Different local authorities have the power to change in different ways. I presume your step-dad is getting DLA/AA?
Usually when the finance people from my council come out to assess finances for payments, they look broadly at all the outgoings and check that they would be getting all the benefits that they are entitled to. Savings (or lack of) are also taken into account.
I would suggest that she discuss her concerns with the person who comes to assess. I know the council I work for has a leaflet which explains how we assess for charges and what the policies are so you could phone up and ask for written guidance if it is available.
Your mother should also ask for a carer's assessment if she hasn't had one already. Again, it depends on the local authority but where I work, these assessments can provide access to other support services and possibly extra funding but again, I think it is just dependent on where you live.
Sorry I can't provide any more concrete answers.. and good luck.

Lovingitifitsabargain

thank you for the information

Penny-Pincher!!

Hi

We have just recently (past 10 weeks) been assessed as I am now disabled and need help with care etc. If your mum is on Income Support-then this is a passport benefit and she should be entitled to 100% help so nil contribution.
If not on Income Support they will count all income : Pension, Carers/attendance allowance, disability living allowance, savings etc etc and your mum will probably have to contribute. They work out what a person needs to live on each week depending on their circumstances and anything over this will be elligible to contribute towards the care.

PP
xx

sarahlouise210

As your mum is over 60..dont forget that if she is receiving her State Pension at the same or higher rate than Carers Allowance then she cannot receive both.