Hi, my name is P_Sofio!

P_Sofio

Hi all.
I've just joined up and want to say hi to you all, I'm 45, on income related ESA and PIP for medium rate on both daily living and mobility, I claim child tax credit with disability premium, child benefit and dla for my blind 6yr old.
I am part disabled with a misaligned shoulder (22yrs) a very bad back(sciatica,disintegrated discs,9yr) and a very weak ankle all on my right side, I'm left-handed.
I put a claim in for carers allowance for my blind 6yr old, 9 weeks ago, I've been told I'm awarded carers allowance but I'm not receiving any benefits as of yet, they are still trying to find out how much they owe me in backdated money..I thought this would be very straightforward, she's on enhanced dla for both elements, I'm in support group for esa for the last 6 yrs, so that's what I need to qualify..so what's the hold-up? I thought could only backdated 3 months? I've been caring for her since she was born..her conditions she was born with nystagmus, convergent squint,lazy eye, cataracts and anterior segment anomaly, she's 80% blind in right eye and 60% in the left, she's also on the list for being diagnosed with adhd and autism, she's an extremely bright,clever,intelligent curious amazing chatterbox, so many interests and extensive knowledge in space and animals and dinosaurs, she wants to be an astronaut, the 1st artist in space bless her, she's the light of our lives, I have my partner, 25yr old daughter with autism, hypermobility ehler danlos syndrome, ibs,ibd,hiatus hernia, fibromaylgia, pos 2 miscarriages, last one 3 months ago, my daughters have the most amazing bond I have a 17yr old son who's being diagnosed with tourettes, he has a learning disability and my partner was born with 4 toes on both feet, cataracts, chlondoritis( floating rib) 
So, yes that's our story, does anyone know if carers allowance is being backdated longer than the 3 months? I got award letter 2 weeks ago and still no payment...very strange.
Thanks in advance to anyone who reads this, and any knowledge is greatly appreciated x

poppy123456

It can be backdated to the start of the DLA award if the decision on the DLA award was made less than 3 months ago. If the decision was made longer than 3 months ago then maximum backdate is 3 months.

As you're also claiming Income Related ESA before carers allowance can pay you any money they have to contact ESA to recalculate your payments. This is because the carers allowance will be deducted in full from your ESA and then they add the carers premium. Carers allowance will then pay you separately.

It's not unusual for a carers allowance claim to take up to about 12 weeks when you're claiming another benefit such as Income Related ESA.

Hopefully it won't be too much longer.

P_Sofio

Thanks Ada, hope you and your family are well, lovely to meet you, I'm here for anyone, if they need anything, I'm a great listener, and advisor thanks for the lovely warm welcome, and I send the same back to you xx

P_Sofio

@poppy123456.
Thanks very much for the info, I am unsure of how it all works, I just thought would be easy to calculate the difference I already have an award letter stating all that.
Your full award notification with detailed information about your carers allowance award will follow, around 13/11th.
We will start paying your carers allowance from 13/11th,if we owe you any money before this date we will send in the full award.
Until we get advice from local benefits advice we cannot pay you any money we owe you from 22/05/23 till 12/11/23 this is because you or your partner have already received esa for some or all of this period.
Any money we owe will be by direct payment. 
We will start weekly payments by direct payment on or around 13/11th
That was sent on 13th of October. 
Any thoughts? Is this just standard?

Thanks for your info.

Hope yourself and your family are well xx

P_Sofio

Oops so sorry just read your don't want tagging...xx

poppy123456

P_Sofio said:

Your full award notification with detailed information about your carers allowance award will follow, around 13/11th.
We will start paying your carers allowance from 13/11th,if we owe you any money before this date we will send in the full award.
Until we get advice from local benefits advice we cannot pay you any money we owe you from 22/05/23 till 12/11/23 this is because you or your partner have already received esa for some or all of this period.
Any money we owe will be by direct payment. 
We will start weekly payments by direct payment on or around 13/11th
That was sent on 13th of October. 
Any thoughts? Is this just standard?

Thanks for your info.

Hope yourself and your family are well xx

I'm ok, thanks for asking. Yes, that seems correct to me and perfectly normal. As i advised because you're claiming Income Related ESA they have to contact them first so they can do the calculations regarding how much you've already been paid. They can't pay you anything until this is done. Once this is done then you will receive any money that's owed and your weekly/4 weekly payments will start (which ever you chose when you claimed)

I remember the same thing happening to me back in 2017 when i first claimed Carers allowance, i was also claiming Income Related ESA too. (still am)

Sounds like they have also awarded it to you from 22/05/2023 too.

I'm not sure what you mean by "direct payment" carers allowance is paid into your bank account by the usual BACS payment, the same as all benefits. 

I believe it's usually on a Monday. If you asked for weekly payments it's paid 1 week in advance. If you asked for 4 weekly payments it's paid 1 week in advance and 3 weeks in arrears.

Please also be aware than your ESA payments will be reduced once the calculations have been done.

P_Sofio

Hi hun. Good I'm glad your OK, ahh I get you, I did get letter which started I'll be getting it paid weekly(what I asked for) I got a letter from esa on 13th of October as well.

P_Sofio

I will delete these as soon as you've read them, so that's what they had calculated on the 13th of October so why haven't I heard anything? Doesn't that seem strange to you? Xx

P_Sofio

I'm not sure about direct payment either, yes I know, I'm not really sure why and how they are doing the claim when I've already had the amounts worked out from esa..3 weeks ago
..and my money stayed the same except fir extra from carers allowance x

poppy123456

P_Sofio said:

..and my money stayed the same except fir extra from carers allowance x

That’s not correct. Based on the calculation in your screenshot (and my calculations) then your total weekly income will increase by £42.75 because of the carers premium they add to your ESA. 

You haven’t heard anything because as I advised, they have to contact ESA first to work out what money is owed to them because the carers allowance is deducted in full from your ESA. It can take a few weeks to do this. My claim was exactly the same in 2017 and it’s perfectly normal. You just need to wait. 

P_Sofio

Aah ok thanks so much for the reassurances, so as said from the date they stated I'll be backdated for that period, so it's still a lot of money, and will help massively, thanks so much. I'm normally a maths whizz, but haven't really used my maths brain since I aas 17 lol.
Take care now xx

P_Sofio

Hey I worked out from 23rd of May till now is 133 weeks times by the amount I'm getting (apparently) is 10,000 if as your saying is by £45 pw that's about half the amount..is that correct? X

poppy123456

P_Sofio said:

Hey I worked out from 23rd of May till now is 133 weeks times by the amount I'm getting (apparently) is 10,000 if as your saying is by £45 pw that's about half the amount..is that correct? X

How did you come to 133 weeks and £10,000? That’s not correct.

From 22nd May to now is 23 weeks. Carers premium is £42.75/week. I make that £933 up until today but the exact amount will depend on when ESA start paying the carers premium in your ESA. 

P_Sofio

I times by 4 accidentally I'm supposed to be getting £79.50 a week not 42.75, if times 79.50 it's 1,800 odd, I don't know just annoying being told one thing, when rang she said haven't been awarded yet that letter was from esa not cares so no idea, dw will just wait and see x

Albus_Scope

Hey there @P_Sofio  and welcome to the community.  I hope you're doing well today?

I can see you're already getting some great help, but I just wanted to give you a warm welcome.

If you wanted to chill and chat, or maybe join in with some of the games, then I'd highly recommend the Coffee Lounge category.