To nebiroth and jenniferpa
'Who did you ask to be disregarded?
Yourself (as a resident carer) or your mam?
If you applied to have yourself disregarded, then yes, you need to be getting Carer Allowance.
If you apply to have your mam disregarded, then Carer Allowance is not necessary. Your mam would need to qualify as "mentally or socially incompetent" (a horrible phrase, but I'm sure you know what is meant), and receiving something like Attendance Allowance.
It might be worth getting advice from, say, Help the Aged or Citizen's Advice and re-applying, this time, ask to have your mam disregarded.
In my experience, most authorites (DWP, Local Council etc) contrary to popular belief, do not actively seek to block people from getting things they are entitled to.
However, the process can be complicated and quite intimidating, and it;s easy to apply for the wrong thing or in the wrong way, and to thus lose out.
Incidentally, have your mam got Attendance Allowance, and have you applied for Carer Allowance?
Certainly, if your mam needs that level of care and you're providing 35 hours per week or more, it sounds as though you both quality! Working 6 hours a week shouldn't stop Carer Allowance, the important thing is that you provide at least 35 hours a week care and that your total personal income (just ours) is below a certain level and that your mam gets something like Attendance Allowance (either rate). You don;t have to live with your mam to qialify either.'
Sorry for such a delay in responding!!
Working 6 hrs per week means I exceed the threshold for carers allowance. My Mam can be disregarded as she is severely mentally impaired and in receipt of 'DLA'. However I can't be disregarded as my mam needs to be on Highest rate DLA. So effectively, my mam is being acknowledged as 'SMI' but I am not being acknowleged as her carer by our council (because she is on middle band DLA)
'Who did you ask to be disregarded?
Yourself (as a resident carer) or your mam?
If you applied to have yourself disregarded, then yes, you need to be getting Carer Allowance.
If you apply to have your mam disregarded, then Carer Allowance is not necessary. Your mam would need to qualify as "mentally or socially incompetent" (a horrible phrase, but I'm sure you know what is meant), and receiving something like Attendance Allowance.
It might be worth getting advice from, say, Help the Aged or Citizen's Advice and re-applying, this time, ask to have your mam disregarded.
In my experience, most authorites (DWP, Local Council etc) contrary to popular belief, do not actively seek to block people from getting things they are entitled to.
However, the process can be complicated and quite intimidating, and it;s easy to apply for the wrong thing or in the wrong way, and to thus lose out.
Incidentally, have your mam got Attendance Allowance, and have you applied for Carer Allowance?
Certainly, if your mam needs that level of care and you're providing 35 hours per week or more, it sounds as though you both quality! Working 6 hours a week shouldn't stop Carer Allowance, the important thing is that you provide at least 35 hours a week care and that your total personal income (just ours) is below a certain level and that your mam gets something like Attendance Allowance (either rate). You don;t have to live with your mam to qialify either.'
Sorry for such a delay in responding!!
Working 6 hrs per week means I exceed the threshold for carers allowance. My Mam can be disregarded as she is severely mentally impaired and in receipt of 'DLA'. However I can't be disregarded as my mam needs to be on Highest rate DLA. So effectively, my mam is being acknowledged as 'SMI' but I am not being acknowleged as her carer by our council (because she is on middle band DLA)