Carer allowance and other benefits

535mum

Hi, I am not sure if I am posting on right place or not. Sorry in advance. I am receiving UC, LCWRA, daily living PIP. My son who is earning less than £139 a week and has been caring for me since he finished his University in August, wants to apply for carer allowance. What effects will it have on my payments? I know my council tax which is deducted will be effected but I want to know what else will be effected?

poppy123456

It won't affect your benefits. I don't understand what you mean by this.

535mum said:

I know my council tax which is deducted will be effected

Jimm_Scope

Hi @535mum, Poppy is right in that your benefits should not be affected.

Can I ask why you think your council tax deduction will be affected? What is the current reason you are getting a council tax deduction?

Hope we can clear this up for you so you know what to expect

535mum

Thank you so much for quick response Jim and Poppy.
I have been told that the council tax deduction I am receiving as single person will be affected by the carer allownce my son will receive. I don't know if it true or not. If you have any knowledge about that please do let me know.
Also how will this application of my son's go about? Will there be any assessment or interview face to face or by call? My son is very nervous to apply for this. He should have been applied long ago but he was not ready to do so. 
Thank you

poppy123456

It will not affect your single person discount for council tax. Does your son live with you or is he claiming the carers discount which is 25% same as single person discount?

It’s a very simple claim for CA. Form can be done online here https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/how-to-claim no checks are made. If he’s working then he may need to send confirmation of earnings such as pay slips. 

2oldcodgers

poppy123456 said:

 .........no checks are made. 

Precisely. The DWP have absolutely no idea if the carer actually carries out the minimum number of hours of caring - 35hrs every week.
It's a benefit that is wide open to abuse and especially if the wage earned is kept artificially low by paying part cash, part cheque.
I could have claimed it for my late father years ago but seeing that we lived well over 300 miles from each other it would have been rather suspicious.

poppy123456

2oldcodgers said:

poppy123456 said:

 .........no checks are made. 

Precisely. The DWP have absolutely no idea if the carer actually carries out the minimum number of hours of caring - 35hrs every week.
It's a benefit that is wide open to abuse and especially if the wage earned is kept artificially low by paying part cash, part cheque.
I could have claimed it for my late father years ago but seeing that we lived well over 300 miles from each other it would have been rather suspicious.

Yet highly likely the majority of people claiming it will do far more hours than just the minimum 35 hours. I care for my daughter, which is a lot more than just 35 hours!

As for earnings, it's the employers responsibilty to report earnings to HMRC and then it's rather easy for DWP to check this, which they do.

I wouldn't expect anyone to claim it for someone that lives 300 miles away.

2oldcodgers

poppy123456 said:

2oldcodgers said:

poppy123456 said:

 .........no checks are made. 

Precisely. The DWP have absolutely no idea if the carer actually carries out the minimum number of hours of caring - 35hrs every week.
It's a benefit that is wide open to abuse and especially if the wage earned is kept artificially low by paying part cash, part cheque.
I could have claimed it for my late father years ago but seeing that we lived well over 300 miles from each other it would have been rather suspicious.

Yet highly likely the majority of people claiming it will do far more hours than just the minimum 35 hours. I care for my daughter, which is a lot more than just 35 hours!

As for earnings, it's the employers responsibilty to report earnings to HMRC and then it's rather easy for DWP to check this, which they do.

I wouldn't expect anyone to claim it for someone that lives 300 miles away.

Yet caring has never been defined for benefit purposes. It is accepted by the DWP that remote caring can be treated just the same as in person caring.
You do seem to have a very blinkered view of the world or is it me after dealing with criminals for many years. I automatically see options to get around the rules.
If you honestly believe that all employers follow the rules to notify HMRC of all money paid as wages then that is not reality.
I know differently. The construction industry and service sectors are rife with cash payments that are not recorded.
And yes some will do more hours than the 35 minimum but if they only do 10 hours a week how would you think that the DWP could track those claimants down? They can't and to be honest 
I doubt that they would be interested in doing so.

chiarieds

I can't see where or why you'd consider poppy to have a blinkered view, so perhaps it's you @2oldcodgers - the vast majority of benefits claimants do not do so fraudulently despite your assumptions. For the mere amount that those claiming Carer's Allowance get, why would they do so?

Dealing with criminals, your viewpoint is indeed perhaps skewed. There have always been ways to get around rules if a person is receiving 'cash in hand' & also with self employment, but where with the meagre amount paid to carers can you prove this, or with other benefits? Your negativity is indeed beginning to pall.