Is carers allowance backdated??

nikkif

My mum has been caring for me for years but was always under the impression that family members couldn't be in receipt of carers allowance I've now found out otherwise just wondered if it would be backdated to when your pip award started from when you were in need of the criteria of care needs and eligibility?? Many thanks

poppy123456

Unless it's a new recent award then it can only be backdated for a maximum of 3 months. Whether there's any entitlement will depend on her circumstances. If she works and earns more than £139/week then she will not be entitled. 

 Does she claim any benefits herself? If so which ones exactly?

Do be aware that if you are claiming Severe disability Premium in another benefit and she claims carers allowance for looking after you then your SDP will stop. 

nikkif

Thanks poppy mum is actually just on state pension no credit element and I don't clain sdp as I had to move in with parents due to extra care needed 

poppy123456

As she's claiming her state pension then because they are treated as overlapping benefits then she can't be paid carers allowance if her state pension is more than £76.75/week. Instead she will have an underlying entitlement to it. 

It could mean there's some entitlement to Pension Credit but it will depend on her circumstances. She still needs to claim carers allowance to have an underlying entitlement to it. She can use a pension credit calculator to see if there's any entitlement. Make sure she ticks the box where it asks if she's a carer. pension-credit-calculator

Please note, there's no credit element of state pension, this will be Pension Credit. If she lives with a partner that's under state pension age then she won't be able to claim Pension Credit, unless she's already claiming it because they will be known as a mixed aged couple. 

nikkif

Thanks for your advice Poppy. Wow that all seems quite complicated but I will try the tool and see how it pans out. I suppose the worst that can happen is a rejection. I just think that my poor ma is spending so much time and energy looking after me in my 40's when this is the time I should be looking after her the least I can do is give her something.