Direct payments and carers allowance

Summerx
Summerx Community member Posts: 8 Connected
in Benefits and income
Hi. I received enhanced PIP for both and receive direct payments from my local authority and have 2 hours of care a day. When my carer isn't here my son helps me a lot. Would he be able to claim carers allowance even though I get direct payments? 

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,372 Championing
    Direct payments have nothing to do with carers allowance or any other benefits. Whether your son can claim carers allowance for looking after you will depend on his circumstances. If he works and earns more than £132/week after deductions then he won't be entitled. https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility
    Does he claim any other benefits himself, if so which ones?
    Is he a full time student?
    Does he live with you or do you live alone?


  • Summerx
    Summerx Community member Posts: 8 Connected
    Thank you for your reply. He isn't working right now but isn't claiming any benefits and he lives with me. 
  • calcotti
    calcotti Community member Posts: 10,005 Championing
    edited January 2023
    Summerx said:
    Thank you for your reply. He isn't working right now but isn't claiming any benefits and he lives with me. 
    The other question poppy asked is - Is he a full time student?
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 61,372 Championing
    Unless he's a full time student he can claim Universal Credit, providing he doesn't have savings/capital of more than £16,000. This will include standard element for either under or over 25 depending on his age and carers element but he'll need to make sure he reports being your carer.

    If he claims Carers allowance as well as UC then the carers allowance will be deducted in full from any UC entitlement. However, if he was caring for you for at least 35 hours per week in the past 3 months then carers allowance can be backdated for a maximum of 3 months, so it would be worth claiming and backdating it. Providing he wasn't working and earning over the maximum amount for that time.

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