why when the carer reaches Pension age they lose the carers allowance?

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: Pip.

PollyPick

I know I am one of thousands caring for either an elderly or disabled family member but what I would like to know is : why OH! why when the carer reaches Pension age they lose the carers allowance? We are still carers! we still have another human to look after so why do we have to lose the Carers Allowance? the Pension isn't that much better but we earned that and therefore should still be getting the Carers Allowance yet no one has campaigned to get that reinstated for the Pension age group carers who do need it as much as the younger carers do! We do save the Gov. millions yet they spend OUR money elsewhere on people who have never worked or paid anything into this Country!
Anyone out there have a sensible/logical answer

calcotti

Carer's Allowance and State Pension are both earning replacement benefits which are classified as overlapping benefits. The pensioner retains an 'underlying entitlement to Carers Allowance and if the pensioner is eligible for income based benefits (such as UC, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction) they will get an extra allowance for being entitled to CA.

PollyPick said:

..no one has campaigned to get that reinstated for the Pension age group carers who do need it 

It has never been possible to get both CA and SP. Th same applies for CA and contribution based ESA.

PollyPick said:

..the Pension isn't that much better but we earned that and therefore should still be getting the Carers Allowance..

The flat rate SP is £185/week compared to £69 for CA. Many people will get less SP but if so (and they no other income) they may get pension Credit which (as need above) will include an extra allowance for a being a carer.

poppy123456

PollyPick said:

yet they spend OUR money elsewhere on people who have never worked or paid anything into this Country!

Umm, what has that got to do with the overlapping benefits rules? Are you aware that some people have health conditions which means they are unable to work, so to live they need to claim means tested benefits. Which may apply to your disabled son.

There's also low income families, who also work and claim benefits such as tax credits or Universal Credit. Yes, they actually work but receive a top up of benefits because of their low income.

Please don't judge others because it's really not nice.

PollyPick

Good morning poppy123456 You seem to judge others with views that you disagree with - I appreciate what its like having to remain home because of the restriction to work if you are having to depend on Benefits (as I have when my children were young)BUT I did find when able to work I worked like a darn slave and long hours, over the years there has been no support no Services as for Physios and OTs  they are something someone made up to make us feel better but we haven't seen anyone in years even though I have sought out these mysterious figures in the Departments, until recently and then sent on a fools errand with my son and cannot make contact with this 'student trainee s/w or her supervisor - disappeared - poof - gone ???? is that what we have paid in for?  

calcotti

PollyPick said:

Good morning poppy123456 You seem to judge others with views that you disagree with..

I see no judgement.

poppy123456

PollyPick said:

Good morning poppy123456 You seem to judge others with views that you disagree with

I haven't judged anyone and i'm not a judgemental person. Yet that's exactly what you did with your comment yesterday.

SueHeath

Morning @PollyPick I see no judgement either from our wonderful Poppy.
Poppy helps a lot of us, out the goodness of her heart, the same as calcotti and some other members.
I just think you seem angry at the whole system, but please do not take it out on the people who try to help us. 

poppy123456

SueHeath said:

Morning @PollyPick I see no judgement either from our wonderful Poppy.
Poppy helps a lot of us, out the goodness of her heart,

Thank you Sue, that's very kind of you, i really do appreciate it!

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PollyPick

Good day SueHeath
No doubt poppy is very helpful to you all, she's about the one in a million who really cares about people, and no! I am not angry just 'peeved' at being given the runaround by the Services for 46 years and then they send a trainee to us who has never answered our calls , nor has her supervisor and as for the Services they informed my other son who tried to chase these people down that we'd be hearing from them in due course - I am wondering which century and what planet!? So I apologise to anyone who has taken my emails to heart when it was not intentional.

L_Volunteer

I hear your frustration @PollyPick. Would anything, in particular, help to support you and reduce your frustration at the moment?

Other than improvement for your situation, of course? Which I, unfortunately, don't have the power/magic for.

Please don't hesitate to let us know if there's anything we can do to support you, even if that's just extending a listening ear