i dont claim carers because it would benefit me. other benefits would just take it off my entitlement so ive in one and and take away with the other
.... don't give them ideas!I found it extraordinary that I was able to claim carer's allowance while drawing a full company pension, which was over £120 a week. I wasn't in any sort of work. This didn't class as earnings apparently.
My income tax went up a bit so I never got the full carer's allowance anyway.... don't give them ideas!
They are classed as overlapping benefits, even if you defer DWP pension for a larger one at a later date you are deemed to have received it in relation to CA.If you were claiming a state pension its a different story.
Hi @Neveradullday!I've never claimed carer's allowance, so probably don't know what I'm talking about - but it seems to me allowing people to earn up to £120 a week without losing it (CA) is a pretty good deal, as they must be part time carers anyway.
Taxpayers money has to be protected from fraudsters of course, but asking claimants who've made an honest mistake to pay back thousands is very harsh. Maybe asking them to return 6 months worth would be fair. Perhaps if it's that complicated, writing off the debt completely would be fairest. If they're an obvious carer I'd do that anyway - no questions asked.
I'm sure people looking into this will sort it out.
Hi @Chizz - when you put it like that, of course it's an horrendous deal. I retract my "a pretty good deal" quote. A lot of carers on this forum do 168 hours/week of course not just 35, so CA pays pennies not pounds an hour. I have zero income, but at least I'm saving my mum approx £1500 a week. And I've got a roof over my head.Hi @Neveradullday!
I have never claimed Carers' Allowance as I am not eligible (as a pensioner)!
However having said that I disagree with the first paragraph of your post. To get Carers Allowance, as I am sure you are aware, you have to be doing at least 35 hours unpaid caring, and if you do get paid employment for such time as you have left after the 35 hours caring, you are not allowed to earn more than about £139 per week, and if you do earn more then you're considered as overclaiming, and you are committing a crime.
So if you get the carers' allowance (£76.75 per week) (that is £2.19 per hour!) and you earn, say, £138 per week, so you are within the allowed limits, that means your income is £214 pwk approx = £11,128 pa. (for at least 45+ hours per week). I don't think anyone can easily live on £11,128 pa. I appreciate the person being cared for may be receiving a pension, so the cared for and the carer, if they pool their incomes, have about £20,00 pa - it is still not what you say is "a pretty good deal" - I think it's a b****y awful deal for all the effort and heartache and loss of other life that the carer has to go through just to get this survival.
Who would allow, and get away with, a worker to only get £2.19 per hour! Good deal, it's disgraceful compared with what HMGovmt save!
If this carer's paid your job isn't straight forward, then problems arise - for example, employer says to employee, we're a short staffed this week, would you like to do 2 hrs overtime at 1.5x hrly pay? Employee (and carer) would love to earn a few bobs extra, but so he/she doesn't fall foul of the rules, has to no I can do extra paid work. How silly is that?
No diagnosis neededmy mum hasn't really had a formal diagnosis of dementia
Also, if it's means tested, (or is that the other one), I wouldn't qualify.
My mum doesn't get any benefits, just the State Pension and a small private pension. In fact this year is the first year she will pay income tax as a pensioner, thanks to the frozen personal allowances.No diagnosis needed
The person you care for must already get one of these benefits:
What about attendance allowance?My mum doesn't get any benefits, just the State Pension and a small private pension. In fact this year is the first year she will pay income tax as a pensioner, thanks to the frozen personal allowances.
I agree, my recollection is that it requires you to be able to provide care a number of hours a week which you can’t do if you’re working full time. I think they are following the rules, which might need changing. Losing carers allowance when you get state retirement is a bigger issue for me, I’m still providing virtually 24 hour care. More things that need an overhaul, although we probably can’t afford it!I've never claimed carer's allowance, so probably don't know what I'm talking about - but it seems to me allowing people to earn up to £120 a week without losing it (CA) is a pretty good deal, as they must be part time carers anyway.
Taxpayers money has to be protected from fraudsters of course, but asking claimants who've made an honest mistake to pay back thousands is very harsh. Maybe asking them to return 6 months worth would be fair. Perhaps if it's that complicated, writing off the debt completely would be fairest. If they're an obvious carer I'd do that anyway - no questions asked.
I'm sure people looking into this will sort it out.