Carers allowance

Don’t think you can get carers allowance unless you are of working age. If retired forget it!

thank you sp1953 x

It took about 6 weeks for my Mum's allowance to be approved but it was backdated

That's right re council tax reduction Luckygirl, but we press on regardless! that's the hand of cards we have been dealt.

Hi, nevesnan.Have you looked into direct payments, these would be paid to your husband, to employ someone to help with his needs.Social services, would decide how many hours were needed.Hope you get help soon .

Indeed Oldandverygrey - it is enough to drive you mad. I cannot get it for the very same reason - it is an "overlapping benefit." Ditto council tax reduction for being a carer - only applies if you are not related.

Fingers crossed for you nevesnan - hope you have a happy outcome.

I'm sorry for all of you who were not awarded the payment, even though you obviously should have.

Thank you all for your replies. I was told to apply for this because I have been my husbands carer for 6 years due to his multiple problems, and he has just been diagnosed with cancer.

If I'm assessed on my income it is 84 per week occupational pension I won't get my state pension for another two and a half years. He has been on his pension for 5 years and also gets PIPS. I will keep you all informed of the outcome. And once again thank you for your replies.

If you are eligible it will be backdated to the date the claim was received by the DWP. My carers allowance ended once I received state pension despite being a full time carer for my disabled husband. Apparently you can't receive more than one benefit.

I cared for my late dh and was never told about carers allowance until very near the end, so wasn't much point then.

Like anything else its like secret service!

Nevesnan - when I became my husband's carer I was encouraged to apply for carer's allowance. This I duly did, filled in the forms etc., and then waited. After a period of 4/5 weeks I received a letter to say my application has been refused, because I received a State Pension! what a complete waste of time, I hope you have better luck than me.

This has remained a sore point with me since 1993 when my late husband was terminally ill. I was turned down for any allowance for him and had the mother of all rows with some idiot at Newcastle, this was after a home visit by an independent GP who'd confirmed that my H was very ill at the time. DWP in those days needed confirmation in case I was " pulling the wool !"
6 months before his death the DWP had decided to send claim forms so I sent them back with an equally terse letter. He'd been ill for 5 years prior ! I'd been doing the caring as well as working at the hospital full time------because I had to do.

How many fall through the net ?

If you meet eligibility criteria then usually within 3 weeks