Carers Allowance overpayment

Blakes_Mum wrote: »

I have been claiming carers for my husband and had put up my hours at work from 16 to 24 they have written to me saying that since April 2017 they want my payslips and have stopped my money. I honestly did not know I had done anything wrong I am now down £240 a month and worried how I can carry on. My husband has just been diagnosed with another cancer and has dementia. What will happen I can not afford to live now as he has run up some credit card bills that I was only just managing. Cant get to citizens advice as they only open limited hours while I am at work. I am looking at having to repay a large amount. or prison do you think

It would have been better to start your own thread with this question. Asking questions on someone else’s thread causes confusion because they look at the first post and answer that.

To claim carers allowance you mustn’t earn more than £123 per week after deductions. Working 24 hours per week means you will be earning more than the allowed amount. You will have an overpayment from the time you increased your hours and won’t be entitled to any carers allowance for that amount of time. You may have a fine on top for not reporting the changes and you will have to arrange to repay what you owe. How much you will owe will depend on when the changes took place. Carers allowance is £65.15 per week from April 2019, slightly less in previous years. Add the weeks and you’ll know roughly what you owe. I very much doubt you’ll be sent to prison for this.

You will need to send them the payslips like they asked you do to. Once they receive these and a decision is made they will contact you.

It does state on all letters that all changes must be reported.

50Twuncle wrote: »

If you are now working 24 hours per week and only being paid £240 per month - something is wrong - minimum pay is now £8.21 per hour - which means £800 per month - minimum

£240 is the amount of carers allowance now lost

50Twuncle wrote: »

It is £123 now - but this is an old claim - dating back to pre 2017- That's why I added "depending on date"

Aah. Fair point

£116 in 2017/2018

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/About-Us/News/Benefits-Update-June-2017-Carers

£110 before that

https://www.carersinsouthampton.co.uk/change-to-carers-allowance-earnings-rule-announced