Carers Allowance

Let us know how you get on! 🤞

Thank you,I will☺️

You should chase up the DWP Des.

Thank you for replying.
We are on means tested benefits.

Des Carer’s Premium is called Carer’s Addition if you’re over SP age. You can only get it if you’re receiving other means-tested benefits,

M0nica

But the purpose of Carers Allowance is not to pay someone for caring but to recompense someone who does not work because they are caring. It is a (grossly inadequate) replacement for an earned income.

When you reach pension age, you stop working and drawing a wage and instead have a pension coming in, and everyone, including those not working because they are caring also get that pension. As the carer is getting a pension, they are no longer recompensed for not working.

That is how the system was set up and how it works.

You can work and have an income and still get carers allowance, you just have to be earning below the limit.

When I reached pension age I didn't stop working, I did draw a wage.

Have you applied for the carers premium?

I retired in Oct last year,my carers allowance stopped,but I'm entitled to the carers premium in recognition of my wife's care
But I haven't heard word or a payment in the 6mnths since I retired.
Could this be due to a backlog of cases?
Thank you in advance for any help

Being denied Carer's allowance is a reason for carers to go on strike.

We are sick of being used. we paid into a pension, but now we are being penalised for it.

What a shambles. It's all take , take take - one Government after another. They don't care about us - only themselves.

But the purpose of Carers Allowance is not to pay someone for caring but to recompense someone who does not work because they are caring. It is a (grossly inadequate) replacement for an earned income.

When you reach pension age, you stop working and drawing a wage and instead have a pension coming in, and everyone, including those not working because they are caring also get that pension. As the carer is getting a pension, they are no longer recompensed for not working.

That is how the system was set up and how it works.

It’s unfair that reaching pension age affects your Carer’s Allowance.
Caring doesn't stop with age. Your dedication deserves support, not bureaucratic hurdles.

@62Granny,

That also happened to me so I had to apply for Attendance Alowance for my late husband which after 10 months of trying and being refused because the department said he was not ill enough to receive it, we finally received it only for my husband to die three months later. So much for not being ill enough.

I never thought of my state pension as being a benefit as I had paid into it for 45 years but apparently it is.

Carers UK estimates that unpaid carers across the UK save the government £162bn a year.

The new government HAVE to shake this business about unpaid carers. God alone knows how much money is saved by this insulting neglect of bloody hard workers.

Overwhelmingly women.

welbeck

that won't be carer's allowance, which is for the person caring for the disabled/ill person.
maybe you are thinking of higher rate attendance allowance, or PIP.

My mistake welbeck I meant the higher rate of Attendance Allowance.

that won't be carer's allowance, which is for the person caring for the disabled/ill person.
maybe you are thinking of higher rate attendance allowance, or PIP.

Theexwife

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

If you are classed as terminally ill you will get more I think I receive £108.

Bonnybanko is in Scotland where the rules are different.

PIP is from 16. I was awarded PIP when I was 65 last year in August . My 65th birthday was April and back dated until I asked for the forums March 2022. Once you get state pension you can only apply for attendance allowance you can't have both awards .

Cabbie is right I was awarded my PIP before state pension age. Plus attendance allowance has no mobility part so PIP is worth more. As you get living and mobility. But you can only get PIP before state pension age. Once state pension age you can't apply for PIP.

Bonnybanko I am not sure who you are speaking to? If someone is on PIP they cannot get AA as well.

Why don’t you apply for Attendance Allowance and self directed payments . I receive both of these as I’m into my 5th year of stroke recovery. I’m a 75 yr old widow and these payments help me greatly to employ a gardener, someone to do the ironing and someone to clean my house. My local authority has been very good to me. I also receive personal care 4 times a day p, I’m so blessed. pm me if you need advice re these benefits

MOnica I only go by what my brother tells me as I don't pry. But I know his father in law had to fight to get carers allowance when he looked after his wife with Alzheimer's. He looked after her for 6 years by himself before he had to admit he couldn't cope and she went into a home . Where she caught covid 3 times had 2 falls the last one she died in hospital . He was 87/88 when he had to give up looking after her himself as with most carers his health suffer . My sister in law helped as much as she could but has MS.

It was the solicitor the Brain Charity got me who told me to claim UC which I did and my caseworker was lovely and told me she would send for the health forms for me and it would be phone appointments from now on. She set up my account for me on my phone. I had a face to face assessment as after my PIP phone assessment I didn't trust people . But the assessor couldn't have been kinder and I got both UC payments. I would never have known I was entitled to UC unless my solicitor told me.

CA helped me get pension credit. I was with them for 3 hours a hour spent waiting for DWP to answer the phone . She helped me fill in the form and wrote down exactly what to say when I phoned on my 66th birthday.

Why is it UC and CA people are so lovely and helpful and care about people when PIP are staffed by robots who don't give a dam about disabled people?

An underlying entitlement might mean that other benefits are increased, or that someone becomes entitled to something they might have not previously been entitled to, for example Pension Credit or Council Tax Benefit or Housing Benefit. It is complicated - best to get advice and check it out.

arcane is indeed the word for all of this . . .