Stop Claiming Carers Allowance

lelboy123

Hi,

I just wondered if there is a way to stop claiming carers allowance. I don't particulary want to but it's causing problems with our family UC claim. As I am deemed a carer I am never required to attend the Job Centre to look for work but my wife is constantly hassled to do so which is stressing her out & causing problems between us. As my wife doesn't talk to my dad her view is 'why should him & his house affect ours', which I do understand. The JC said I was left alone because I'm marked as a carer.  

I do look after my dad but the payment is not fully needed at present. So I have 2 questions: 

1, Can I opt to stop receiving the payment?
2, If I do stop receiving the payment can I opt back into it when I really do need the money more?

Thank you in advance for your help 🙂

poppy123456

Yes, you can ring them to cancel the claim. However, doing this does often cause issues with UC and them adding back on the deducted amount for carers allowance.

If you stop the carers allowance or carers element then you will be treated as a job seeker. 

Yes, you can reclaim it in the future. However, when claiming UC you do not need to claim carers allowance to be entitled to carers element. There's no financial gain to claim carers allowance at the same time because it's just deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

Biblioklept

Does your wife understand that she'll still be hassled by the JC to go in even if you stop your carer claim @Jelboy123?? So instead of just her, both of you will be being hassled?

lelboy123 said:

As my wife doesn't talk to my dad her view is 'why should him & his house affect ours', which I do understand.

I really don't think I understand this as it only positively impacts your claim. So why would she want that to stop? She's not being called in because you're not. She will be called in either way and stopping the carer element will mean you are also called in. Surely that's worse for your household??

lelboy123

Thank you both for your replies. I fully agree I think her point of view is madness & I have told her that she will still be asked to attend the JC. I think I just wanted some black & white backup in case I was going mad.

The reason she wants me to end the claim is she hates going to JC which ramps up her anxiety which in turn affects our relationship. I know the response will be she needs to go to the root of the cause but easier said than done!

Biblioklept

Sadly she would still be required to go @lelboy123 It's a shame she has no contact with your father and doesn't do his care or she could claim the carer element. 
Did your wife ever start sending fit notes to UC? Has she had any assessment or decision on her capability for work? 
I saw before you said you have children, how old are they?? Just wondering if there's another way to lesson your wife's work search commitments  

lelboy123

Biblioklept said:

Sadly she would still be required to go @lelboy123 It's a shame she has no contact with your father and doesn't do his care or she could claim the carer element. 
Did your wife ever start sending fit notes to UC? Has she had any assessment or decision on her capability for work? 
I saw before you said you have children, how old are they?? Just wondering if there's another way to lesson your wife's work search commitments  

poppy123456 said:

Yes, you can ring them to cancel the claim. However, doing this does often cause issues with UC and them adding back on the deducted amount for carers allowance.

If you stop the carers allowance or carers element then you will be treated as a job seeker. 

Yes, you can reclaim it in the future. However, when claiming UC you do not need to claim carers allowance to be entitled to carers element. There's no financial gain to claim carers allowance at the same time because it's just deducted in full from any UC entitlement.

Sorry, one thing I forgot to mention the other day - I am working on a zero hours contract. Not sure if I would be required to attend the job centre as I have a job lol?

lelboy123

Oh also one other thing. What do you mean exactly by this? 'However, doing this does often cause issues with UC and them adding back on the deducted amount for carers allowance.'

I'm a little unsure what you mean. Thanks!

lelboy123

Biblioklept said:

Sadly she would still be required to go @lelboy123 It's a shame she has no contact with your father and doesn't do his care or she could claim the carer element. 
Did your wife ever start sending fit notes to UC? Has she had any assessment or decision on her capability for work? 
I saw before you said you have children, how old are they?? Just wondering if there's another way to lesson your wife's work search commitments  

Yes we have 1 child.

I've told her she will still have to go in. Personally I feel she is being a tad petty. She has made it clear she gets fed up that she has to go in & I never do. Plus she doesn't like my dad so feels what right does he have to affect her life.

Not sure how I will fare if I close the claim as I am working on a zero hours contract but every month I am getting a lot of hours & a decent wage. Not sure if I would be required to attend the job centre as I have a job lol?

I really don't know why it is stressing her out so much popping in every couple of weeks. Half the time it's a phone interview anyway.

Apparently the JC told her the only reason they stay off my back is because I'm a carer. Personally I would think they stay off my back as well because I've got a job!

poppy123456

lelboy123 said:

Oh also one other thing. What do you mean exactly by this? 'However, doing this does often cause issues with UC and them adding back on the deducted amount for carers allowance.'

I'm a little unsure what you mean. Thanks!

Meaning if you're claiming carers allowance, this is deducted in full from your UC entitlement. If this is cancelled then UC don't always add that money back onto your claim straight away. More often than not they are very slow so you could be even more worse off financially by cancelling the carers allowance.

lelboy123 said:

Sorry, one thing I forgot to mention the other day - I am working on a zero hours contract. Not sure if I would be required to attend the job centre as I have a job lol?

Whether you'll need to attend the job centre will depend on how much your earnings are each month. Couples AET is currently £988/month so if you earn more than that then you will have no work commiments. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/changes-relating-to-in-work-progression-equality-analysis/equality-analysis-raising-the-administrative-earnings-threshold-spring-budget-2023-announcement

If you earn less than that then you maybe expected to attend appointments and look for more work.

How old is your child?

lelboy123

Our child is 13.

That's where it will be a grey area as on average I'm probably earning between £800 to £1000 per month. Occasionally there maybe a month where I get more hours where I can take home £1200 for example. On the flip side there maybe a quite month where I only take home £700. But I'd say 9 to 10 months a year it's between £800 to £1000.

I understand what you're saying now. I have told my wife this - that we will probably be worse off but she is hell bent on me cancelling it. Like I said in my opinion it is daft & makes no sense whatsoever. Her reasoning to me was that when I applied for it I didn't tell her (which is 100% correct) but I had no idea it would mean her being the one having to go into the JC all the time & me being left alone. Like I said to her I cannot predict the future. As I saw it - it's more money coming in to the household. I have also said to be blunt if you get a job then the JC aren't on your back at all. 

poppy123456

You mention carers allowance and then earnings of between £800 and £1,000 a month sometimes more. Those earnings are over the maximum carers allowance earnings of £139/week. 

Or do you mean it’s just carers element you’re claiming and not carers allowance? 

It won’t make any difference to your overall benefits entitlement if you stop claiming them but there’s a maximum earnings limit to carers allowance, which concerns me because of your earnings. 

lelboy123

poppy123456 said:

You mention carers allowance and then earnings of between £800 and £1,000 a month sometimes more. Those earnings are over the maximum carers allowance earnings of £139/week. 

Or do you mean it’s just carers element you’re claiming and not carers allowance? 

It won’t make any difference to your overall benefits entitlement if you stop claiming them but there’s a maximum earnings limit to carers allowance, which concerns me because of your earnings. 

Ah yes sorry my mistake. It is carers element I am getting.

poppy123456

Thanks, that makes sense. You can ignore my advice about the deductions for carers allowance then.

Going back to your earnings, you may not have any work requirements at the moment but it will depend what earnings you receive each month. 

Do be aware that the AET is expected to increase again sometime this year. 

It really is a shame that your partner is being this way because cancelling the carers element would mean losing £185.86/month. With the cost of living so high at the moment, that’s a lot to lose. 

Does your father live alone? Is he state pension age? 

lelboy123

Yes he lives alone & I am an only child. He does get a state pension and he also gets a company pension. So the money isn't drastic BUT as you say we would be waving goodbye to £185 a month for in my opinion a very daft petty reason. 

It's causing so many problems between us but I just can't think anyone else would it the way she would. It's like just because I don't get hassled by the JC this is her way of making it awkward for me hoping I will be. Which as a wife I find very odd.