Very unfair that Carers Allowance is not paid to pensioners

But carers allowance is for working age people to take into account they’re unable to work & earn a wage. If you’re retired anyway & getting a pension, the caring isn’t stopping you from working.

We can’t be giving out benefits to everyone. It’s why we all need to save as much as possible to pay for things like this in old age.

Carer’s Allowance is a pathetic amount to compensate for not being able to work, and is lost if you go over the limited amount you are allowed to earn.
But yes, it is an” overlapping benefit” and cannot be awarded to anyone in receipt of State Pension.
Blur25, I think many carers have no time or energy left for working.

theworriedwell

I don't understand why people keep posting about attendance allowance. The OP is questioning why she, as a carer, can't get carers allowance. Attendance allowance would be something her husband can claim for himself but why shouldn't she get something as a carer that is paid to carers?

When Carer's Allowance was introduced, its express purpose was to compensate those who had to give up paid employment to care for someone.

To change the principal of Carers Allowance to a new one where its purpose is to reward anyone who needs to care for someone means major change in the legislation.

Since to get Carers Allowance you need to be caring for someone in receipt of a disability payment ; PIP, or Attendance Allowance among others it can be argued that as the purpose of disability allowances of all kinds is to pay for extra living expenses someone has because of their disability, then some of that money should go to the carer, which would be extra income for them above the carer's minumum.

Let me be clear I am making an argument, not saying it is one I would support, but it is a valid argument.

You don't have to give up paid work to get CA. You just have to have an income below a certain amount.

I was wondering how you were getting on Primrose. Sadly it seems not very well. Did you sort out your husband’s bathing regime.
Thank you for this thread, my DM is coming to live with us and now I won’t bother to consider carers allowance as I too am a pensioner. I will follow up on the attendance allowance though. I am hoping to avoid paying VAT on the walk in bath and alterations to fit it in our shower room.

Pamela contact AgeUk.

CA isn’t means tested (generally) Worried. I know of 2 very wealthy people who have received it - one using it to pay his wife’s carer for a days work.

I was turned down x2, but that’s a different story.

I am sorry to hear about your situation. My husband had cancer and died in january. He had attendance allowance for about a year. He also had marie curie carers, who were wonderful. Not sure if that was because if palliative care tho. Why not ask Age Uk, they can help with forms as well.

Georgesgran

CA isn’t means tested (generally) Worried. I know of 2 very wealthy people who have received it - one using it to pay his wife’s carer for a days work.

I was turned down x2, but that’s a different story.

I think it is a bit misleading to say CA is not means-tested.

www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility
For full details, this is the government info.

www.ageuk.org.uk/siteassets/documents/information-guides/ageukig52_carers_allowance_inf.pdf

This puts it even more clearly

Attendance allowance is not means tested. We don't claim benefits, but still got it.

Always claim AA for someone who is paying the full rate in a care home. It helps offset the cost, just a bit. 🤏

What this post has revealed is that it’s all way, way too complicated for most normal people to negotiate. A sceptic might say that’s on purpose, but goodness knows how much it costs in Government employees trying to sort out claims.

Not fit for purpose.

Im so sorry you’ve got this additional worry on top of caring for you husband, Primrose.💐

Georgesgran

CA isn’t means tested (generally) Worried. I know of 2 very wealthy people who have received it - one using it to pay his wife’s carer for a days work.

I was turned down x2, but that’s a different story.

Try getting it if your income is more than £151 a week, even by a penny and you won't get it.

Georgesgran

CA isn’t means tested (generally) Worried. I know of 2 very wealthy people who have received it - one using it to pay his wife’s carer for a days work.

I was turned down x2, but that’s a different story.

It isn't a out how wealthy you are it's about how much you earn. The limit is £151 per week.

Not sure what happened then. First post disappeared and then reappeared.

I can only say that I stand corrected about CA.
In my defence, I can only say that those people I refer to as wealthy, are/were the non-working spouse of high income earners.

My own application for CA was denied, then appeal denied. A second application 5 years later was also denied, despite caring for DD2 after she suffered a stroke in childhood. Thankfully she gets her DLA award for mobility, which goes straight to Motability, for her car.

I’m probably going to be shot down in flames but while it is nice if there are some State subsidised benefits when caring for a close relative at home, I would never have dreamt of seeing it as an entitlement.
Fair enough if you have to give up work but in that case the reduced family income would presumably entitle you to some financial benefits. But once we were both getting that pittance of a State Pension, why should I get more? Not necessarily.

I was DH’s carer for some years in the sense that he needed help with dressing, had severe mobility issues and needed me to get him out of the house and to hospital appointments (60 + miles away in London) Extra laundry , or cleaning help in the house and garden were all down to me.
D1 and SIL generously offered to pay taxi fares to and from the Toyal Free in London when he was no longer able to travel by train and taxi, but before that we bore the cost .
That’s what you have savings for and the way life pans out.

Is it fair? I don’t know but never having claimed benefits of any sort it never occurred to me to do more than apply for a blue badge, a disabled rail card and (rather late in the day) assistance allowance.
I think OP needs some help and guidance to navigate the “system” but railing against an “unfair” system is a dead end.

Royal Free in Hampstead, not what I wrote!

I think the term Carers Allowance is what leads to confusion. As others have said it’s meant to help cover the reduction in income that happens when you have to give up work or reduce working hours in order to care for someone.

Obviously once you’re retired it makes no difference to your income though here might be a vast increase in your expenses.
and still where the other allowances kick in.

Maybe if it was called Reduced Income Supplement or something it would be cleare?

Politicians always want a name that makes them feel good.

Same here Rosie.
I acknowledge I’d applied for CA to help with DD2, if only to help with the cost of physio at £100 a week, but when DH was diagnosed in 2016 and died 5 years later, we paid for everything from pension/savings. By the time he needed a Blue Badge, it was too late.

As we were told, ‘anger is wasted energy. Accept the situation, it can’t be changed, so make the best of it’.

Yes, do help your DH apply for Attendance Allowance, Primrose.
You could get £72.65 or £108.55 a week to help with personal support if both of the following apply:

you have a physical disability, a mental disability, or a health condition
you’re State Pension age or older

It won't cover the cost of carers but will help.
Unfortunately carers are overworked, pressurised and often can do no more than rush in, do the basics and rush off to the next client.
I do remember my MIL didn't like being put to bed at 9.30 pm as she was always a night owl but, of course, the carer did have many other clients to visit that night too. 6.30 pm seems very early.

When I claimed carers allowance when my child with a severe disability was at home I think the earning lining was capped at about £90 a week! I could barely stay awake because of my caring responsibilities and I was young! Family carers save the government a fortune

JaneJudge

When I claimed carers allowance when my child with a severe disability was at home I think the earning lining was capped at about £90 a week! I could barely stay awake because of my caring responsibilities and I was young! Family carers save the government a fortune

We do indeed. I'm finding it harder and harder. I don't have the strength and energy I had 30 years ago. I feel like crying, been a hard day.