Dla And Carers Allowance

nobron

Hi
My wife is getting at present DLA at the highest rate and as been claiming for 10 years now, im just wondering can she get care allowance, if so what as she got to do?

angeluk69_2

Hi I am not an expert in any sense of the word about this but AFAIK you cannot claim both.

Someone else will be along soon to advise further

dmg24

Hi nobron,

Welcome to MSE.

Somebody can get CA if they care for your wife on a full time basis, but she cannot claim it for herself.

There is more information about eligibility for CA here.

dmg24

angeluk69 wrote: »

Hi I am not an expert in any sense of the word about this but AFAIK you cannot claim both.

Someone else will be along soon to advise further

You can claim both, but CA would be claimed for caring for somebody else, not yourself.

mouseymousey99

Hi - Also you need to be getting DLA at the middle or upper level for personal care.

nobron

Im sorry guys but I think im miss leading you all, I mean can she claim the care component of dla

wolfehouse

i take it your wife is getting only the mobility part of dla then.
if her care needs have increased, she can put in a new dla claim including all the facts about what care she needs (can't make a meal herself, needs help bathing etc)

but do be sure to look up the current criteria for giving the care part (e.g. at least x minutes help spread over the daytime...etc) because if they are looking at an application they look at both components and can take away entitlement as well as give it. (the it's harder to get these days than it was years ago).

get some help from cab or a welfare rights person. Once she is getting care component (middle or higher) then as long as she's not on income support, it may be worthwhile for a family member who provides care to also claim carers allowance. (but that's for later). (if she's on income support they just remove it from her and give it to the carer).

lil_me

If she needs help with her care then it'd be worth applying, one thing I feel must be mentioned is when asking for such a review they can change the award for the other component (mobility) if they feel the mobility needs are improved. You can of course appeal if they do change this. I have only known 2 cases in the last few years where a review has been requested (in these cases to include mobility) where they have reduced the award for the care part they were receiving. As wolfhouse said they do look at both again.