Carers allowance and direct payments

robynj

Hi, I receive Carers Allowance for my 14yo daughter as she is entitled to DLA. My adult step daughter is also disabled and is moving out of home and it looks like she’ll be entitled to direct payments to pay for carers. I have unofficially cared for her for the last 4 years. Would my step daughter be able to ‘employ’ me as a PA (carer) - or could I not be a PA for her at the same time as getting carers allowance for my daughter? 

poppy123456

Whether she could employ you as her PA will depend on the rules of your Local Authority because some don’t allow this. You will need to speak to them.

If it’s allowed then the earnings limit of £151/week will apply. Earnings of more than this and carers allowance ends. 

https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility You must tell carers allowance if you start working. 

Are you claiming any other benefits?

robynj

Thank you. My partner and I claim universal credit. I already do a little bit of freelance work but only earn about £25 a week and carers allowance unit and UC know about this. I guess I just wasn’t sure if it I could be caring for two people at the same time - and get carers allowance for one and direct payments for the other.

robynj

Actually, that’s another potentially complicated issue - my partner (my step daughter’s mother) currently gets the carers element of universal credit. If I was to start getting paid through direct payments, would my partner still get the carers element top up in our UC? (My step daughter has multiple issues and needs a lot of care) 

poppy123456

Carers element is not affected by earnings. You won’t actually be paid through direct payments. Your step daughter will receive the payments and she will need to employ you, if this is possible. As I advised not all LA will allow this for family members.