Carers Allowance

i was told to tell DWP that one's caring role continued even when no allowance for it could be paid, something about having an underlying entitlement.

Whiff Why can your brother's FiL not get Attendance Allowance? The medical problems he has and the fact that he needs care should qualify him.

However, many people do not fill in the forms properly and i would always advise people to seek help completing them. Age UK should be able to help you. I worked and was a volunteer with them for over 10 years working as a Home Adviser filling in these forms and since I stopped doing this I have been able to help quite a number of people, including several on GN get AA when they had been turned down because they did not understand te arcane way these forms have to be completed.

Do PM me if it would help.

Yes we get PIP, it's not even the money in a way I object to losing, but the principle , as you said it was put in to compensate giving up my job to look after my DH, not that it is anything like a wage. I pity people who still have a mortgage and dependants, when illness comes their way.

My brother had to stop working about 5 years ago to be full time carer to my sister in law and her dad who lives with them . He is only allowed carers allowance for his wife. Even thought he looks after 2 people. He gets a small private pension a month but next year will get his state pension then the carers allowance will stop. My sister in law gets enhanced PIP for living and mobility but her dad gets nothing but his state pension and small private pension he will be 92 this year. He can't get attendance allowance. He has COPD and heart problems.

Mind you it took me 35 years to get disability benefits and only got PIP enhanced for living and mobility indefinitely when I went to tribunal last year and only because the Brain Charity got me a solicitor pro bono who worked on my behalf from June/July 2022 until end of August 2023 . PIP after my phone assessment gave me zero on everything. I was born disabled also have a hole in the side of my heart I was born with.

Cabbie was wonderful full of help and information. But the best help was when she wrote about going to a tribunal with a mother and her disabled son. And saying how kind they where to them.

I found the tribunal kind and they listened and asked all the right questions. Only took 50 mins and less that 10 mins they made their decision . I could have cried when they told me my award .

Until either disabled or carers of the disabled assess people no disabled person will get treated fairly. I have heard so horror stories from people who have fought for years for help.

But I know of people where I used to live who where on disability benefits and their was nothing wrong with them . One woman probably told me how easy it was to fake manic depression and how many holidays they had abroad a year and new cars. And they could afford to buy their own home but won't because living in a council house meant they got repairs and new windows etc for free.

That’s if you can get it!!
A sore point for me as I was refused twice and again on appeal, despite DD2 having a life entitlement to DLA.
It a long time ago now, but I’ve never forgotten the injustice.

Carers allowance is £81.90 for 35 hours care, it doesn’t seem enough compensation for being unable to work.

Yes, PIP cannot be claimed for the first time after pension age. Attendance Allowance is the one to claim, though PIP can continue for those already on it. It is worth noting that AA does not have a Mobility element, so anyone approaching pension age should claim PIP before it is too late.
62Granny, your husband must be already getting a disability benefit, probably PIP, for you to be getting Carers Allowance. At least 35 hours care a week is needed to qualify.
Turn2us, and entitledto.com, are online sites you could look at and put your details in to see if you are entitled to any other help. Even if you can’t get Pension Credit, you may qualify for Council Tax reduction, which is administered by your local authority, not DWP.
There are also grants available. It is worth putting in your former employment, or your husband’s and you will be surprised what can be claimed for various jobs and professions.

Age UK and Citizens Advice are both good on benefits, on their websites, or by phone, if you can’t get a face to face appointment.

The idea is that it compensates you for not being able to work full time. Once you get your SP you are expected to be not wanting to work full time. Don’t shoot me, I don’t make the rules.

I have never really understood cares allowance as it is such a low amount to cover the amount of care you have to give to be entitled to it.

Does your husband receive PIP? I believe that is supposed to be used to cover help he needs, but has to be claimed before pension age.

I know it seems cruel. CA is supposed to be a work-replacement benefit, not that is is anywhere near enough to replace a wage. It is therefore an overlapping benefit, and cannot be claimed once you get a State Pension.
Might you be entitled to Pension Credit?
Might your husband qualify for Attendance Allowance? Worth looking into maybe?