Care Allowance

Everyday living
1

care allowance - how does it work?

who actually applies for it, the one needing the care or the one who will be caring?

who dos the assessing?

is it paid to the person who is ill and he/she pays a carer of his/her choosing?

is it means tested?

thanks.

2

This might be useful Anon. Carer's Allowance: How it works - GOV.UK

It’s also possible to request a care assessment from local social services, to see if you qualify for direct payments.

3

The clue’s in the name. It’s actually Carer’s Allowance, which means it’s the carer who receives it, not the person needing the care.

It’s meant to help compensate for them being unable to work, or only being able to work very limited hours, due to care commitments of at least 35 hours a week.

It’s not means tested, but if the carer earns more than £100 a week net - I assume from either the care work itself, or other work they manage to fit in around it - they won’t qualify.

I don’t think there would be any “assessing” because the person being cared for already has to be on qualifying benefits, which will have been assessed in their own right. So there is no need to assess again, as being in receipt of those benefits will already be accepted as “proof”.

The carer, of course, does not have to be assessed, as there does not have to be anything the matter with them. I’m sure, though, that their affairs will be subject to scrutiny, to make sure they haven’t falsely claimed to be earning less than £100 p.w.

Tina

4

For someone to claim carer’s allowance the caree must get:

DLA at middle rate care, attendance allowance or PIP with the daily living component.

If the person doing the caring is already getting a benefit like JSA or a state pension then CA will not be paid.

Also it can have an effect on the carees benefit. If the caree gets a disability premium on income support or housing benefit these will cease when someone claims carers allowance.

5

What if your not any benefits except for DLA and your carer gets DLA for RA? Is it possible to claim?

6

It might be a good idea to call your citizens advice bureau, they will give you all the up to date advice you will need x

7

It is possible for 2 people with DLA to claim carers allowance for each other – or just one for the other but only under certain circumstances.

Say, for example one has DLA for physical needs and the other for mental. It is possible for the disabled (phyisically) person to offer guidance and encouragement to the one with mental health issues. And for the one with mental health problems to offer help of a physical nature to the physical needs person.

If both have similar care needs identified on DLA it is not possible to be a carer one for the other. You cannot on one hand say, (for example) that you need help dressing but are helping someone else get dressed. It doesn’t make sense.

I don’t know what DLA for RA means so it is difficult to be spesific.

Jane

8

Hi, one point I think has been omitted, unless ive missed It...............is that to get carers allowance, the carer must work a minimum of 35 hrs.

  • To ensure my hubby did this, we timed each event and totted it all up. In fact he did many more as he was with me night and day!

He still is, but as he turned 65 last year, he doesnt get CA now…still caring, but no wage!

luv Pollx